Jim Wilson's Blog, page 47

Our Weapon: The Holy Spirit - In Prayer

 

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:18–19).

Praying for saints and sinners is a major part of the proclamation of the gospel. What are we to pray? For the saints:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (Col. 1:9–12).

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9–11).

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:14–19).

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Mt. 9:36–38).

For sinners:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59–60).

Notice that the prayers for saints in evangelism occur more frequently than the prayers for sinners.

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Our Weapon: The Holy Spirit - In Conviction

 

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more” (John 16:7–10).

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, convicts men of sin. This conviction is one of the states that precede repentance.

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

As You Read the New Testament (Same Page Summer)

 

I became a Christian when I was 20 years old, during my second year at the Naval Academy. However, my conversion was set up for me beforehand, because I learned two things prior to becoming a Christian: authority and obedience. I learned these in bootcamp, and I learned them in plebe year. When I received Christ my sophomore year, I already knew what authority and obedience were. I could see them everywhere in the New Testament.

The New Testament is full of commands that are very clear. But I see that Christians do not pay much attention to them. Here are a few of these commands:

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say—rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).

These commands are all-encompassing and without loopholes. There are no exceptions.

I recently had an acquaintance tell me he liked the New Testament better than the Old Testament because the Old Testament was filled with commands, and the New Testament is filled with grace. Well, I don’t know what he’s been reading—the New Testament is filled with commands!

The Christian life is one of authority and obedience. Of course, the obedience is done by grace; that is the only way the commands can be obeyed. But they are still to be done!

Pay attention as you read through the New Testament this summer. Look for the commands.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).

These are big commands—but it is a big God who gives them and provides for us so that we can obey them.

So pay attention as you read through the New Testament. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commands” (John 14:15). The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus tells us that the way to do this is to obey Him. This is not a legalistic obedience. It is loving the Person who gave us the command. If we love Him, we obey Him.

Please join us in reading the New Testament this summer with the Same Page Summer reading plan. Details at samepagesummer.com.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Same Page Summer

 

Many years ago, I was talking with a young woman, and I asked her what she thought of Jesus. Her reply was a good answer but qualified with this phrase, "but I don't think he was very polite."

The more I read the Gospels, the more I am convinced that her qualification is a true one. The problem was that, to her, politeness was a high virtue, and since Jesus was not polite, He was not perfect.

Many of us, like this young woman, interpret Scripture in the light of our cultural mores. We do this because obedience to the text as it is might mean crossing or offending our Christian and secular friends.

The issue is clear in a place like India or Japan where the religious culture is so opposite to the claims of Christ. If a person does not follow Christ there, he knows he does not, and he knows why. In our society, we have compromised for so long that we think we are following Christ when in reality we are only following the evangelical American culture.

One good way to be sure you are following Christ and not the culture is to be in the Word daily. Read the Word. Read all of the Word. With that in mind, I would like to invite you to join the Same Page Summer Bible reading challenge, which starts today. You will read through the New Testament over the summer. You can find the details at samepagesummer.com.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Our Weapon: The Holy Spirit - In Divine Power

 

There is so much in Scripture about the relationship of the Holy Spirit to our presentation of the gospel that we will take up the subject in sections.

In Divine Power

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt. 3:11).

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith” (Rom. 1:1–5).

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3).

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:14–21).

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:18–21).

God’s divine power is available to us in proclaiming the gospel. It is His power that is at work within us, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Where Is Your Bible? Hiding God's Word in Your Heart, Not Your Head

"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).

There are many kinds of Bible study: reading, synthetic Bible studies, group Bible studies, Old Testament references in context, subject studies, and more. There is a kind of Bible study that goes beyond these. It is meditation. Meditation is more mystical and more practical than these other types of Bible study.

In order to explain this, let me tell you first what meditation is not. It is not looking for a deeper, hidden meaning in the passage. It is not numerology or looking for a codified arrangement of the text. It is not saying that the plain meaning of the text is not the right meaning. Meditation does not have to do with our understanding of the text, but rather where we understand it.

Studying generally results in head knowledge. If we memorized Matthew 5:38-48, we might come up with all the right answers on a written exam about it. Would we do as well if we were put into a laboratory with evil people who sued us, hit us, forced us to carry their belongings, asked us for money, and persecuted us?

In order to pass the lab test, I need have my head knowledge transferred to my heart. Having Scripture knowledge in my heart makes it practical. My actions—planned and unplanned—come from there. That is where I should store all this good stuff so that when I overflow, good comes out. Here are three teachings from the gospels that describe how what we store up inside affects our actions:

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him" (Matthew 12:34-35)

"He went on: 'What comes out of a man is what makes him "unclean." For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man "unclean"'” (Mark 7:20-23).

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man bri.ngs evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45)

Early in my Christian life I memorized hundreds of scripture verses. I knew them word-for-word, with their references. I could call them up at anytime. It did not occur to me, or to others, that I was not living them out. It was probably three years before I began to grow suspicious. I realized that it was one thing for my brain to spout scripture, and it was another thing entirely for my heart to overflow. I thought that memorizing scripture was hiding God’s word in my heart. It was not; it was hiding His word in my head. I might have been able to pass a written test on the Bible, but it was a sure thing that I would not pass the lab test.

I thank God that neither test is given, since we have been saved by grace. After we are saved, we are to be careful to do good works: "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Whether our good works are the fruit of the Spirit or words and actions, they come from our hearts. Let’s look at a few examples from the Bible:

"Then Jesus said to his host, 'When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous'” (Luke 14:12-14).

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing" (Philippians 2:14-16).

"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:39-42).

Each of these passages contains imperatives. Look at them again. What do they say? Do you understand them? You may have questions about them. If you have questions like, “Where do you draw the line?” “You mean I cannot invite my parents?” “How rich?” “Suppose he is wrong!” “Suppose he is evil!” then you probably understand in your head and not with your heart.

To understand with your heart, ask this question: “Is the command clear?” Then ask yourself: “True or false?” After you say, “True,” praise God for the command with thanksgiving. When you do this, you have begun to hide the Word in your heart. Continue to hide it in your heart by soaking in the Scriptures, musing and meditating on them. Pray for the lame and the blind, your enemies, and evil people. Confess anything that is hindering willing obedience. Then begin to long for and pray for opportunities to obey the commands unconditionally.

If you are a Christian and you do not understand what I am saying, something is very wrong. You might be hesitating because you would be out of step with your friends if you suddenly started obeying these commands from the heart. In other words, you do not want to be godly if it means being different from the rest of the saints.

Meditation does not take study. It takes prayerful, willing submission to the text. That is why it can be done all of the time.

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers" (Psalm 1:1-3).

Is the Bible just in your head, or is it in your heart? We are in the lab all of the time.

This post coordinates with tomorrow's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us. The summer plan will begin shortly!How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Filled with Laughter: Songs of Joy

 

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs" (Psalm 100:1-2).

In this world there are sad songs, love songs, and battle songs, but the songs of salvation are all songs of joy and gladness. David knew this when he wrote Psalm 51. In it he sings, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

Salvation means joy, and joy means singing. Psalm 126 is about release from physical captivity, but it is also a great picture of salvation:

"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him" (Psalm 126).

This song overflows with joy. All the joy comes from one place, and that is heaven. The center of heaven is God. He is the focus of everything. If God were not joyful, heaven would not be joyful—but it is. Heaven is joyful for the same reasons we are—our repentance and salvation.

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent…In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7, 10).   

"The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV).

God is with us, saves us, loves us, and rejoices over us with singing. For God to rejoice over me with singing is almost beyond my comprehension. I am joyful because I am saved, but it is difficult for me to realize that God is even happier about my salvation than I am.

Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, which means that the Holy Spirit is the source of joy. God sings over us with joy, the Holy Spirit gives us joy, and the Lord Jesus Christ looked forward to the joy beyond the cross:

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

When my family and I arrived in Moscow, Idaho, in the fall of 1971, we met a group of people who gathered to sing every Wednesday evening. They had been converted through a lay witness mission the preceding February and had been singing ever since.

There are two reasons for music in this world. The first is the pleasure of listening to, playing, or singing it. The second is making or listening to music because of joy that was there beforehand. That is the way it is in heaven, and that is the way it should be in the Church. Because we associate music with good feelings, we sometimes reverse the order. We have music in church in order to cause pleasure, and then we mistake that pleasure for joy.

Revival in the church has two main results. One is restitution, and the other is joyful singing. Let us not forget the reason for the latter:

"And they sang a new song: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.' Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!' The four living creatures said, 'Amen,' and the elders fell down and worshipped" (Revelation 5:9-14).

This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Damage Control (Integrity)

"Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders" (Psalm 107:23-32).

There is nothing more tranquil nor more violent than the sea. Psalm 107:23-32, Luke 8:22-25, and Acts 27:14-44 all describe violent storms. Ships were caught in each of these storms, and the men were terrified because their ship was in danger of sinking.

On 19 July, 1950, in Tsushima Straits, Task Force 77 rode out a typhoon. I was on the USS Brush, a destroyer in that task force. At 3:40 that morning I was almost washed overboard. Psalm 107 applied to me. In November 1950, en route from Japan to Midway Island, bucking fifty-knot winds and heavy seas, the same destroyer lost her port bilge keel and had her motor whale boat carried away by the sea. Again, Psalm 107 applied.

There is a special definition of the word “integrity” that I like. It has to do with the sea-worthiness of a ship. It is called watertight integrity. When a ship is battened down, water cannot get inside. The ship cannot sink. This integrity has to do with interior hatches, doors, and water-tight compartments as well as the exterior of the ship. If the ship has interior integrity, it will not sink even if a breach is made in the exterior.

In between the two storms mentioned above, the Brush hit an underwater mine on 26 September off Tanchon, Korea. The mine left a large hole in the port side below the water line, severely compromising the ship’s exterior integrity. But because of the interior integrity of the ship, we did not lose her.

I would like to apply this watertight integrity to the Christian. Our exterior and interior integrities are, first of all, dependent upon God’s faithfulness, grace, and continual presence.

Exterior integrity is concerned with storms and attacks from the outside. 1 Peter 5:8-9 and Ephesians 6:10-18 describe how to handle these attacks. Peter tells us to be self-controlled and alert. Stay awake, and you will not be blindsided. Ephesians tells us what kind of clothing to wear and what weapons to carry so that the attacks will not harm us. Although these passages are well known, it is amazing how many Christians feel unfairly treated when they are caught sleeping unarmed.

What happens when something breaches our exterior defense? Do we sink? Do we surrender to the enemy? Or do we have a damage-control system? This depends on our interior integrity. Do we have layers of watertight compartments to protect us from this breach?

The essence of damage control is speed. The faster we get help to the damaged area, 1) the sooner we are an effective fighting unit again and 2) the less extensive the damage becomes. If the enemy gets past our defenses and we respond with sin, then effective damage control is immediate confession and repentance toward God. If we do not exercise fast damage control, we will have to defend against more sins and greater sins.

In a ship, exterior integrity is of first importance, and interior integrity is secondary. In the Christian life, interior integrity is primary. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armor of God (exterior). However, the verse prior to that says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (interior).

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him…" (Matthew 12:35).

If we store up good things in our heart (interior), then good things will overflow (exterior).

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).

"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever" (Deuteronomy 5:29).

It is possible to ride out storms and fierce attacks with peace and joy. Being under attack is not a defeat. In fact, the attack is a cause for joy. But many Christians do not survive the attacks, much less triumph. Consequently, we build up many examples of defeat. Our models are de-masted and hulled ships. Since this is the norm in our experience, we assume it to be God’s norm. In fact, we think that we cannot teach how to survive storms and attacks unless we have been very battle-damaged ourselves.

That is ridiculous! Why should we look to those who have been sunk for lessons in surviving the Enemy’s attacks? We must teach from the Word of God and from biographies of men and women who have been through the storms and the attacks and have not sunk.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us. We would love to have you reading with us.How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Our Weapon: The Name of Christ

 

God has granted us a great range of powerful weapons. Another is the name of Jesus.

“‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ … Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call’” (Acts 2:36–39).

“They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ …. ‘Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.’ …. They called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name Jesus” (Acts 4:7, 10, 18).

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29–30).

“So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord” (Acts 9:28).

It is strange to me that the name of Jesus Christ is used much more by unbelievers than by believers. Unbelievers use His name mockingly, irreverently, and thoughtlessly. They use it in vain. Believers do not want to use Christ’s name in vain. Instead, they do not use it at all. However, it is absolutely necessary to use Christ’s name in our presentation of the gospel.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Without His name no one can be saved.

Many years ago, I came aboard an aircraft carrier in the East China Sea by high-wire from another carrier. I arrived at noon, just in time for the meal in the wardroom. I did not know anyone on the ship. I started to take a chair at one of the tables, next to a lieutenant. He looked at me and said, “That seat’s saved.” So I took the next chair.

Soon an ensign came in, sat in the saved seat, and immediately started talking to me. He was griping about the communication officer, a lieutenant commander, who was his boss. He told me about all of his faults and how poor an officer he was.

I asked the ensign about his own relationships with the enlisted men. I asked him in detail. After he had answered my questions, I said to him, “You are going to be the same kind of lieutenant commander your boss is.”

“I guess you’re right,” he said. “What’s the solution?”

I replied, “Do you really want to know?”

He said that he did.

I answered, “Jesus Christ.” He knew I was not swearing. 

“Would you tell me about him? I have always wanted to know about Jesus. My parents are both atheists. They would not let me go to Sunday school.”

I told him about Jesus. He received Christ a few weeks later.

“‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood’” (Acts 5:28).

“His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name Jesus, and let them go” (Acts 5:40).

“All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’” (Acts 9:21).

There has always been opposition to the use of the Lord’s name. The name and identity of Jesus Christ are foremost in the gospel.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20:31).

 

 

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Dealing with Gossip

 

Here are a few suggestions on how to handle gossip:

1)    Draw the gossiper’s attention to Romans 1:29-32 (see above) and 2 Corinthians 12:20:

"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder" (2 Corinthians 12:20).

Romans lists gossip among the characteristics of unbelievers. Gossip has no place in the Christian life. Notice the other willful sins listed with it. Gossip is not a small matter.

2)    Listen to the gossip and write it down word-for-word. Read it back to the gossiper. Ask him/her, “Is that true?” If the gossiper says that he/she doesn’t know, ask why it was repeated. If the gossiper says that it is true, ask him/her to sign his/her name under the written quote.

3)    Listen to the gossip. Ask for confirmation of the truth of it. Then say, “Let’s both go and correct the person you are telling this awfulness about.”

4)    Do not listen. Walk away.

This action will have three effects:

Some people will quit gossiping.Some will gossip about you.You will be left out of the gossip circuit.

This post coordinates with yesterday's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships