Daniel Whyte III's Blog, page 21
November 5, 2018
LISTEN: The Acceptable Christian Sin of Gluttony #89 (A Message for the Church, with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Proverbs 23:19-21:
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
——-
This is an uncomfortable subject for many of us, but if you listen and take heed, this particular series can not only change your life spiritually, but it can save your life physically.
From this passage, we, like Solomon’s son, are admonished to watch the company we keep. If you publicly announce your intention to change your lifestyle by adopting healthier eating habit, you will have some family members and friends who will support you. However, there will be some who enjoyed “good times” eating and drinking with you (and you with them), and they will be less than enthusiastic about your intentions. They are the “winebibbers” and “riotous eaters” this passage talks about. And, if you continue to hang around them — especially during social settings, you will feel pressured into carrying on with your usual eating habits, as it is much easier to influence someone negatively, especially if that is what they have been engaged in all along.
However, if we pay attention to the consequences of gluttony, we might be more motivated to abstain from it. The consequences named in this passage — primarily, poverty, laziness, and loss of material goods — might seem farfetched in today’s “body-image affirming” culture. However, that is not the case. Obesity, can damage a person’s life in tangible ways even beyond the well-documented health issues.
A Stanford Health Care report states, “People who are overweight or obese frequently suffer disadvantages. Overweight and obese persons are often blamed for their condition and may be considered to be lazy or weak-willed. It is not uncommon for overweight or obese conditions to result in persons having lower incomes or having fewer or no romantic relationships. Disapproval of overweight persons expressed by some individuals may progress to bias, discrimination, and even torment.” You don’t want to be on the receiving end of these consequences.
It is much better to take heed to Scripture — to not spend time with gluttons and drunkards, suffering under their influence — and to endure the relatively minor discomfort of being a temporary social outcast as you seek to glorify God by treating your body, His temple, in a healthier manner.
——-
PRACTICAL STEP: In “The RAVE Diet and Lifestyle,” Mike Anderson talks about the importance of exercise as a part of your dietary changes. He writes, “Exercise is an essential part of the RAVE Diet. As mentioned previously, the root of the word diet actually means ‘lifestyle’ and a change in diet really means a change in the style of your life. Active Americans get a fraction of the cancers and other diseases that sedentary Americans get. Among other things, exercise helps to correct bad health habits by burning up and stabilizing blood sugar levels, improving immune function and lymph flow, getting oxygen to all parts of the body and strengthening bones, while helping us handle stress and increasing both the quality and quantity of sleep.
“Exercise also speeds the passage of carcinogens and toxins from the body and recent studies have shown that exercise keeps your brain as fit as your body, particularly as you age. In other words, exercise will not only make you feel fit and improve your appearance, but it will prevent a wide range of diseases.
“As your main exercise, choose a regimen that’s just the opposite of cancer — one that’s aerobic — an exercise that makes you breathe and respire to raise the oxygen levels in your blood. Cancer hates oxygen and thrives in areas of your body with low oxygen levels, where the blood supply is limited, due to clogged blood vessels. It’s no accident that the American Cancer Society recently made exercise a cornerstone of cancer prevention.”
——-
In closing, as we focus on overcoming the sin of gluttony, and managing our bodies as God intended, we must not lose sight of the most important part of our existence — our spiritual life. Even those of you who are fit, who eat right, and who exercise regularly must still address the condition of your soul. You may keep your body in perfect condition till the day you die, but you will still die — we all will, and the only thing that will matter is the condition of your soul. Is your soul in shape? Is your soul in right standing with God?
The only way to make sure of that is to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin and the consequences of sin. He alone can save your soul, put you in right standing with God, and ensure that you do not perish in Hell. Now, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, here is how you can trust Him today.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
November 4, 2018
LISTEN: The Gentle Gentile General, Part 1 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 590 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 957 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Matthew 8:5-13
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled [a Greek word which means to ‘wonder at’ or express ‘admiration’ for], and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
—-
As we approach Billy Graham’s birthday celebration, I want to share something from the evangelist whom God made great regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said, “The Christian life is dependent upon faith. We stand on faith; we live on faith. Faith is loved and honored by God more than any other single thing. The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach that we have to God. No man has sins forgiven, no man goes to heaven, no man has assurance of peace and happiness, until he has faith in Jesus Christ.”
—-
In this passage, we have another man coming to Jesus expressing an urgent need for healing just as the leper had. While the stories are similar, the characters in them could not be more different. The first was an outcast and one who had no status in society at all. The other, the man before us today, was quite well-to-do and had a societal position that commanded respect from those around him, Jew and Gentile alike. Yet, both of these men — the leper and the Centurion — had to come to Jesus for the meeting of their needs.
In order to gain an understanding of the context of this passage, allow me to share with you from Dr. John Walvoord and Charles Dyer’s commentary on Matthew: “On entering Capernaum Jesus was met by a centurion, a Roman soldier. Though Matthew describes the account as if the centurion personally appeared to Jesus, Luke adds an additional detail. The centurion didn’t approach Jesus personally but rather ‘sent to him elders of the Jews.’ He must have been both a God-fearer and a man of some financial means because this delegation told Jesus, ‘He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.’ The beautiful limestone remains of the synagogue seen in Capernaum today dated to the Byzantine period, several hundred years after the time of Jesus. But those remains rest on a simple foundation of basalt stone that dates to the first century, evidence of the more humble economic status of the town during that time, which depended on the generosity of a God-fearing Gentile for its synagogue.
“The centurion requested that Jesus heal his servant, who was paralyzed and in great pain. [The word palsy indicates a kind of paralysis.] The servant is called in Greek, a ‘pais,’ meaning a child, but the word is sometimes used of adult servants. Jesus promised to come and heal the servant; the word “I” in verse 7 is in the emphatic position in the Greek text and could be translated, ‘I myself.’ Some see this as a question, ‘Should I come and heal him myself?’
“Whether it was a question or statement on Jesus’ part, He got the reply He was looking for. The centurion’s faith was in stark contrast to the unbelief of the Jews in Jesus’ adopted hometown of Capernaum. In reply, the centurion declared himself unworthy for Jesus to come into his house. Again, Luke indicates that the centurion did this by sending ‘friends’ as intermediaries, ‘for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.’ The man then made a statement of his faith in Jesus’ power that amazed the Savior: ‘But say the word, and let my servant be healed.’ Interestingly, when Jesus spoke of the faith of the disciples or of Israel, He often expressed His amazement at their unbelief. In this instance Jesus turned to the crowd following Him and said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.'”
As we close, I want to briefly point out that the centurion, the Gentile general, expressed a similar faith as the leper. When he came to Jesus (or sent intermediaries to Jesus), he did not express doubt in Jesus’ abilities. He knew that Jesus could heal his servant. He only stated his problem, “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” And he expected a solution, healing from Jesus. We can learn a lesson from both the leper and the centurion. God honors faith in Him. He is pleased when we ask not, “Lord, can you?” but, “Lord, will you?”
Margaret E. Barber wrote:
“Ask in faith,” the Name of Jesus
All your plea before the throne;
As you trust, the Lord will whisper,
“See, my child, the work is done.”
“Ask in faith,” God waits to answer
Each petition, Spirit-wrought;
He will work in wondrous power,
Far beyond your highest thought.
“Ask in faith,” ’tis just the asking,
In a faith that dares to stand,
Full of joyful expectation,
With an open, outstretched hand.
“Ask in faith,” for God is waiting
For thy faith-filled, earnest prayer.
Faith delights Him; faith can touch Him,
Every moment, everywhere.
——-
Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
LISTEN: How to Overcome Temptation, Part 101 (Anger and Wrath) (Onward Christian Soldiers Discipleship Class #225 with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIIWelcome to the Onward Christian Soldiers Discipleship Class. I am Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society and pastor of Gospel Light House of Prayer International. The purpose of this time together is to teach young believers everything they need to know about their faith in Jesus Christ and provide them with the knowledge they need to live victorious Christian lives.
Our key Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 10:13:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
— PRAYER —
Our lesson today is titled “How to Overcome Temptation, Part 100 (Anger and Wrath)”
In this section of our Onward Christian Soldiers discipleship class, we are looking at specific temptations that are, as the Bible says, “common to man.” We are looking at what the Bible says about these sins so we can be aware of its dangers and so that we can hide Scripture in our hearts to use when we are tempted.
The sin that we are looking at today is the sin of anger and wrath. This is the fifth sin in a list of 12 temptations that comes from two sources — one ancient and one modern. The first source is a list that was developed by monks in the early church called “the seven deadly sins” or the “cardinal sins.” The second source is a Barna survey from 2011 which tracked the top temptations Americans admitted to struggling with.
Today, we are looking at Proverbs 14:29. (Remember, the text of this lesson is made available online after each class, so you can go to our website GLHOPI.com, click the “Onward Christian Soldiers” banner on the home page, and begin to learn these verses by heart throughout the week.)
Proverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
– – – – –
As we learned last week, not only from Scripture, but from examples in very recent memory, anger and wrath have deadly consequences. This passage commands us to be “slow to wrath.” That is, we should not be quick to at in anger, whether that anger is justified or not. We also pointed out that those who are quick to anger and wrath usually have a problem with pride as well as they are unwilling to turn back from a position of anger once it has been discovered that their anger is unfounded.
Regarding this passage, Matthew Henry writes, “The one who is slow to wrath rightly understands himself, his duty, his interest, the infirmities of human nature, and the constitution of human society. He knows how to excuse the faults of others as well as his own, how to adjourn his resentments, and moderate them, so as by no provocation to be put out of the possession of his own soul.
“A mild, patient man is really to be counted as an intelligent man, one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. On the other hand, he that is hasty of spirit, whose heart is tinder to every spark of provocation is all fire and tow. He thinks by his passion to magnify himself and make those about stand in awe of him, whereas really he exalts his own folly.”
If you struggle with anger or wrath, take this passage to heart and begin to use it the next time you face that temptation.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
November 3, 2018
LISTEN: Until Jesus Comes, Work, Part 6 (Second Coming Chapel with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
— PRAYER —
Until Jesus Comes, Work, Part 6
As we approach Billy Graham’s birthday celebration, I want to share something from the evangelist whom God made great regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said, “You may wonder what Hell is really like. Don’t look to comedians for answers. The Bible tells you the truth. Hell is a place of sorrow and unrest, a place of wailing and a furnace of fire; a place of torment, a place of outer darkness, a place where people scream for mercy; a place of everlasting punishment.”
——
Over the past two messages in this series, we have examined the actions of the unprofitable servant and how he presents himself to his master when the master returns to see what his servants have done with the talents he gave them. The unprofitable servant, of course, has nothing to show and hands the master’s talent back to him, claiming that he was afraid of doing anything with it because the master was a “hard man.” In return, the master brands him as a “wicked and slothful servant” and chides him for not at least putting his money with the exchangers who would have loaned it out for a return with interest. The master takes away this servant’s talent and gives to the profitable servant who had been given five talents and returned to his master another five.
Then, the master, who represents Christ in this parable, pronounces further punishment on the servant saying, “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Now, there are two ways of interpreting this punishment. (And it must be interpreted, as this is a parable — a story or allegory — not a doctrinal teaching from Jesus.)
One argument points out that all three men in this passage are each named as “servants” who belong to the master’s house. The master would not have given responsibility to any one who was not a true member of his house. And, if the master is representative of Jesus Christ, He would not have been deceived about who was truly his own and who was not. Thus, it has been argued that Jesus is, in this parable, using hyperbole to emphasize the seriousness of not using one’s talent or gifts for the Lord’s work. The punishment does not necessarily indicate that the servant was not truly saved. Charles Spurgeon says, “This unprofitable person was a servant. He never denied that he was a servant; in fact, it was by his position as a servant that he received his one talent. This makes the subject all the more heart-searching for you and for me; for we, too, profess to be servants — servants of the Lord our God. Judgment must begin at the house of God; that is, with those who are in the house of the Lord as children and servants. Let us, therefore, look well to our doings. If judgment first begins with us, ‘what shall be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?’ ‘If the righteous scarcely are saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ If in our text this is judgment upon servants, what will be the judgment upon enemies?” Indeed, this is a sobering question.
However, there is another argument which posits that the “outer darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth” all mean this servant was not truly saved and was sent to Hell. Dr. John MacArthur describes this parable as a wheat and tares situation with the unprofitable servant being exposed as a tare in the end. He said, “If ever there was any question in anybody’s mind about whether this servant is a Christian, [the punishment of outer darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth] ought to eliminate it because that is a definition of hell. We’ve read over and over again that Matthew describes Hell as darkness, because God is light, and, according to John, ‘in Him is no darkness at all.’ Thus, the absence of God is utter darkness. And Hell is a place where God is not and never will be. It is a place of torment as illustrated by the statement ‘weeping and grinding of teeth’ to show the unrelieved pain of being out of the presence of God.” This, my friend, is even more sobering — that, in the church, there are those who have (or, at least appear to have) spiritual gifts that they appear to be using for the Kingdom of Heaven, but who are not actually saved, who are not serving Christ, and who will be exposed and sent to Hell in the end.
This parable encourages those of us who are saved to get to work for the Lord, going all out in the use of our talents for His kingdom. There is much work to do! And for those who are in the church, but who are not saved, it serves as a stark warning that Hell awaits them if they do not repent.
Elsie Duncan Yale wrote:
There’s a work for Jesus, ready at your hand,
‘Tis a task the Master just for you has planned.
Haste to do His bidding, yield Him service true;
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.
There’s a work for Jesus, humble though it be,
‘Tis the very service He would ask of thee.
Go where fields are whitened, and the laborers few;
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.
There’s a work for Jesus, precious souls to bring,
Tell them of His mercies, tell them of your King.
Faint not, nor grow weary, He will strength renew;
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.
—–
Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
5 Things You Will Learn in “How to Face Constant Conflict as a Christian”
Every Christian who is striving to live for God will face conflict — with the devil, with people in the world, with their own sinful flesh, even with their family. The new book by Daniel Whyte III, How to Face Constant Conflict as a Christian, shows you how to navigate the various forms of conflict in the Christian life.
Here are 5 things you will learn in this book.
1. You will learn how to keep a calm inner spirit and a calm outer demeanor in the face of conflict.
2. You will learn the true, practical meaning of Jesus’ command to “be wise as serpents and harmless of doves.”
3. You will learn the real reason why the world is often offended by Christians — a reason that most people completely miss.
4. You will learn the secret to remaining fearless by trusting in God.
5. You will learn the reward that awaits those who remain faithful in the midst of constant conflict.
How to Face Constant Conflict as a Christian isn’t a book for every believer. It’s only for those who are serious about walking closely with Christ. And walking closely with Christ involves constant conflict; Jesus told us that Himself. If you’re ready to face constant conflict and emerge victorious, order this book today.
LISTEN: Until Jesus Comes, Work, Part 4 (Second Coming Chapel with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
— PRAYER —
Until Jesus Comes, Work, Part 4
Martin Luther King, Jr., said “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'”
On last week, we looked at the positive example of the two productive servants in Jesus’ parable. The man who received five talents and the man who received two talents invested their time and money and gained a 100% return on their investment. When their Master returned, they were rewarded with praise and with additional responsibility. Because they had been faithful in few things, the Lord made them rulers over many.
Now, let us look at the the third servant who was given just one talent. The Bible says that, when the Master returned, “he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” To be clear, there is nothing wrong with receiving one talent or having one spiritual gift. As we talked about several weeks ago, the Lord, in His sovereignty, gives gifts and talents to each of us according to our individual abilities.
Dr. Warren Wiersbe said, “The third servant was unfaithful and therefore was unrewarded. Because this man was afraid he might fail, he never tried to succeed. He feared life and his responsibilities. This paralyzed him with anxiety, so he buried the talent to protect it.” Perhaps what happened to this servant is what happens to many people today, in the church and outside of the church. Some people look at those who seemingly have a great number of important abilities — the five-talented servants and the two-talented servants — and we conclude that our one little talent is not important at all. Some christians secretly wish for the talents that have been given to others. Some despise what we see as the “small thing” that the Lord has given to us, and end up neglecting it, foolishly pursuing those things that we were not gifted or equipped to do.
While the unprofitable servant’s failure may be masked as a lack of confidence in himself, it is ultimately a lack of trust in God, his Master who gave Him the talents in the first place. When you bury your talent, you are telling God that you don’t believe He knows what is best for you. You are telling God that you think He made a mistake. You are telling God that you want that which He has not ordained for you to have.
As Wiersbe goes on to say, “Were it not for the one-talent people in our world, very little would get accomplished.” Imagine if everyone who has a quiet, ordinary, unglamorous job just decided not to go to work one day. Grocery stores would close, restaurants would shut down, public transportation would grind to a halt, crime would rise dramatically, airports would be backed up, public schools would turn into jungle playgrounds. As the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and poet Mary Oliver says we all depend on the people with “ordinary” gifts more than we like to admit:
“Say you have bought a ticket on an airplane and you intend to fly from New York to San Francisco. What do you ask of the pilot when you climb aboard and take your seat next to the little window, which you cannot open but through which you see the dizzying heights to which you are lifted from the secure and friendly earth?
“Most assuredly you want the pilot to be his regular and ordinary self. You want him to approach and undertake his work with no more than a calm pleasure. You want nothing fancy, nothing new. You ask him to do, routinely, what he knows how to do — fly an airplane. You hope he will not daydream. You hope he will not drift into some interesting meander of thought. You want this flight to be ordinary, not extraordinary. So, too, with the surgeon, and the ambulance driver, and the captain of the ship. Let all of them work, as they ordinarily do, in confident familiarity with whatever the work requires, and no more. Their ordinariness is the surety of the world. Their ordinariness makes the world go round.”
Dear friend, it does not matter how insignificant or ordinary you (or others) may see the talent God has given you. If God gave it to you, He gave it to you for a specific reason, and He has a specific plan that He wants you to carry out using that gift. Don’t be like the unprofitable servant and bury it in the ground.
Kittie Suffield wrote:
In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.
Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child, well done!”
Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown, and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.
—–
Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
New Book: “How to Face Constant Conflict As a Christian”
How to Face Constant Conflict As a ChristianAs Bible-believing Christians who are striving to serve and please God, it is certain that we will face constant conflict. If you are a born-again, blood-washed Christian who prays faithfully, reads the Bible faithfully, strives to obey the Bible, and witnesses faithfully, you can rest assured you will face constant conflict.
God does not want us to faint, quit, or run away from the conflicts that we face. He does not want us to be fearful, nor does He want us to be unfaithful. In fact, He wants us to “be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” He wants us to trust Him as we go through the storms of life. He wants us to grow in our faith as we face constant conflict—all for His glory.
This book will show you through Jesus’ teachings how to stay calm in the constant conflict that comes with the true Christian life and how to have peace in the midst of pain. You will learn what it means to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” And you will understand why you may find yourself at odds with those in your workplace, in your community, and even in your family. You will learn that you are not going to face persecution only because you believe in Christ but because, once you believe in Christ, you are willing to die for Christ and His Word rather than compromise with the world on the job, in the community, or even in your family. This life-change caused by believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what makes people hate you and want to persecute you. As a true believer in Christ, you cannot escape this constant conflict. It will happen, and it will not stop until you see the Lord Jesus Christ. This book will help you face the constant conflict of the true Christian life and be victorious over it.
November 2, 2018
LISTEN: The Story of the Disobedient Leper, Part 3 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 588 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 955 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Matthew 8:1-4
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
—-
As we approach Billy Graham’s birthday celebration, I want to share something from the evangelist whom God made great regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said, “God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’”
—-
From the story of the disobedient leper, we have learned (and, more than likely, re-learned) the wonderful truth that God WANTS to heal, protect, save, and provide for His children. We often speak of God’s will in the context of God’s will FOR us. However, this story and numerous passages in Scripture teach us about God’s will TOWARD us — in other words, what God wants (and does not want) on our behalf. For example, the Bible says that God is “not willing that any [of us] should perish.” It also says that God “desires that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.” God is not obligated to want or desire these things, but He desires them because it pleases Him to do so. Just as you have likely felt the desire for good things for someone else, God personally desires good things for us, and He has the power, but more importantly, He has the WILL to make those things happen.
That is what happened when Jesus healed the leper in this passage. Afterwards, He tells him, “See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” Jesus didn’t need the leper’s publicity; instead, He wanted to send a pointed message to the religious powers that were. He wanted them to realize that the ultimate power had arrived. As one commentator pointed out, leprosy was a lifelong condition; there was no cure. The only time in recorded history when someone had been cleansed of leprosy was 1,400 years prior when Miriam, Moses’ sister, was healed. The chief priests and scribes would be shocked to have a man come and tell them, “This man named Jesus just healed me of leprosy. Examine me according to the Law so that you can know that I am clean.”
Jesus did not need the priests’ validation of the man’s healing — and the former leper certainly didn’t need it. Jesus wanted the man to tell the priests what had happened to him “for a testimony UNTO THEM.” They needed to know that the physical manifestation of the power they had last seen over 1,400 years ago had arrived. Dr. Warren Wiersbe described the ceremony that this former leper would undergo in light of Jesus’ ultimate mission. He said, “This ceremony is described in Leviticus 14 and is another beautiful picture of Christ’s work for sinners. The bird slain pictures the death of Christ; the bird released pictures His resurrection. Putting the bird into the jar pictures the Incarnation, when Christ took a human body that He might die for us. The application of the blood to the ear, thumb, and toe illustrates the need for personal faith in His death. The oil on the blood reminds us of the Spirit of God, who enters the person when he trusts the Savior.”
It’s likely that the priests did not grasp all that this meant at the time. However, after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, they probably began to understand. Even today, we need to be reminded of what the incarnation means — what, to use a term from Thomas Mitchell, the ‘immanuelization of God’ really means. What does it mean for God to be with us? For this disobedient leper, it meant that he no longer had leprosy. He was no longer an outcast. He no longer lived in a colony of disfigured individuals outside the city. People no longer ran from him when he approached. This is the type of radical transformation brought about when Jesus comes into our lives — when Jesus says, ‘I will. Be thou saved. I will. Be thou cleansed. I will. Be forgiven of your sins.’ Every now and then, we need to stop and consciously bear witness of what Christ has done — not just to others, but to ourselves. We can say with the Psalmist (and with this leper), “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
Fanny Crosby wrote:
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
——-
Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
LISTEN: The Acceptable Christian Sin of Gluttony #88 (A Message for the Church, with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Proverbs 23:19-21:
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
——-
This is an uncomfortable subject for many of us, but if you listen and take heed, this particular series can not only change your life spiritually, but it can save your life physically.
This passage touches on some of the consequences of not only gluttony but drunkenness (gluttony of another form). It also expresses the type of behavior that extreme gluttony can bring about. This passage is directed to Solomon’s son, and he is advised not to “be among” — today we would say “don’t hang out with” — “winebibbers and riotous eaters of flesh.”
The Hebrew word for “winebibber” indicates one who becomes intoxicated or drunk particularly at a banquet or feast. This is the same word used of Noah who got intoxicated and passed out in his tent. A winebibber is simply one who drinks too much wine or fermented drink. He or she is a glutton for such beverages.
The “riotous eaters” of verse 20 are those who are lavish in their eating habits. They engage and indulge in food with the enthusiasm and revelry of Mardi Gras partiers. Every meal is a party to them — an opportunity to be excessive in eating. One commentary states, “It is not just the amount of food, but the manner in which the food is eaten that makes a man a glutton. The fact that gluttony is mentioned with drunkenness further confirms this truth.”
Today, we have many more entertainment options to indulge in. But, at the time of this Scriptural writing, feasts where food was abundant and wine flowed were the main attractions. Apparently, there were people who lived for these events. They ate and drank riotously. The warning here is for the wise person not to hangout with gluttons and drunkards, lest their bad habits rub off. With this in mind, are you a drunkard and a glutton? Are there some people in your life who are gluttons and drunkards who are a bad influence on you? Are there some people you need to separate from in order to avoid the consequences of this twin sin.
——-
PRACTICAL STEP: In “The RAVE Diet and Lifestyle,” Mike Anderson shares substitutes for the use of vegetable oil. He writes, “Instead of using vegetable oils for cooking, cook at lower temperatures and use water to make your own broth. You’ll be surprised at how well they work. And with a little practice, you’ll soon find you prefer the cleaner taste. It’s like the difference between eating peaches in heavy syrup and eating fresh peaches right off the tree. Once you stop using oils, you will be able to taste the difference and you’ll never go back.
“Oil substitutes for sautéing include: apple juice, sherry, vegetable stock, vinegars, wine, beer
“Oil substitutes for use in baked goods include: applesauce, pureed bananas, pureed stewed prunes
“For salads, choose a dressing without oil or a vinegar-based dressing, such as a Balsamic or brown-rice-seasoned vinegar dressing. Or try citrus juices in place of salad dressing. Many people have started off with this diet and could not stand the taste of vinegar — but now prefer it because their tastes have changed. Your tastes will change, too, if you give this a chance. ”
——-
In closing, as we focus on overcoming the sin of gluttony, and managing our bodies as God intended, we must not lose sight of the most important part of our existence — our spiritual life. Even those of you who are fit, who eat right, and who exercise regularly must still address the condition of your soul. You may keep your body in perfect condition till the day you die, but you will still die — we all will, and the only thing that will matter is the condition of your soul. Is your soul in shape? Is your soul in right standing with God?
The only way to make sure of that is to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin and the consequences of sin. He alone can save your soul, put you in right standing with God, and ensure that you do not perish in Hell. Now, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, here is how you can trust Him today.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
November 1, 2018
LISTEN: The Story of the Disobedient Leper, Part 2 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 587 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 954 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)
Daniel Whyte IIITEXT: Matthew 8:1-4
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
—-
As we approach Billy Graham’s birthday celebration, I want to share something from the evangelist whom God made great regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said, “There’s a sense in which I don’t actually have to say anything about God’s Word. God’s Word does not need me. God just chose me to pass His Word along. If I ever think more highly of myself as a preacher of the gospel, God can just as easily use anybody.”
—-
In this passage, we have a leper, a sick man, a societal outcast rushing up to Jesus who has multitudes surrounding him, making plain his knowledge that Jesus can heal him. There is no doubt in the mind of this leper about Jesus’ ability. The only uncertainty is Jesus’ will.
When the leper came to Jesus, he made this simple statement: “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” The leper does not make a request: “Lord, please make me clean.” Nor does he frame his desire as a question: “Lord, can you heal me?” This leper has such confidence in Jesus that he does not question Jesus’ ability to heal him; the only thing standing between him and his healing would be Jesus’ WILLINGNESS to heal him.
Now most of us, when reading this story, probably think, “Well, of course, Jesus wants to heal him.” We are so used to hearing about these miracles that we assume their outcome. We think of Jesus as a miracle-working healer who will obviously heal all who come to Him. But here is the thing the leper understands that most of us do not: Jesus does not HAVE to heal him. This leper gets something about God’s nature that most of us reject. We are not owed anything from God. God is not obligated to bless us, heal us, or provide for us in any way. We should never say, “I shouldn’t be having these problems. We shouldn’t be struggling like this.” Who are you not to have problems? Who are you not to struggle? Who are we to make demands and assumptions of God? We are rebellious stiff- necked people walking around on the earth; He is the massive, omnipotent Lord who owes us nothing.
That is the beauty of this story. The leper — a sick, diseased, outcast man — is humble enough to realize that God owes him nothing — that Jesus was not obligated to make him clean. And his humility sets us up for Jesus’ beautiful response. “I will. Be thou clean.” “Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” We ought to model the mentality of this leper in our daily life — in the way we pray and work and live. We ought to realize that God owes us nothing because we deserve nothing. But at the same time this story, and much of Scripture, lets us know that he WANTS to bless us. He WANTS to heal us. He WANTS to provide for us. He WANTS to save us. It is His pleasure to do so.
John E. Roberts wrote:
Have you heard the joyful sound?
Jesus heals, Jesus heals;
Through the Spirit we have found
Jesus heals, Jesus heals.
Yes, He heals the blind and lame,
And His pow’r is just the same
As when first to earth He came,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals.
Jesus heals and makes us whole,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals;
Heals the body and the soul,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals.
Yes, He heals the sick and sore,
And our suff’ring days are o’er,
Praise His name forevermore,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals.
Blow the trumpet loud and long,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals;
Chant the sweet, melodious song,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals.
“I’m the Lord that healeth thee,”
Just believe and you’ll be free,
Praise His name, He healeth me,
Jesus heals, Jesus heals.
——-
Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
