Faith Sense

The battle to remain faithful to God is difficult. Satan wants to utterly destroy each one of us, and his schemes are extremely crafty. The only way to gain strength and competency for the fight is in personal devotional time each day. A disciple is a learning follower, thus Bible study is imperative.

Scripture reading should be incorporated into our daily routine to allow God’s word to equip us for all good works. Fervent prayer is also needed in our daily quiet time. There’s nothing we cannot accomplish through diligent, faithful prayer.

Personal devotional time in the form of Bible study and prayer will strengthen our relationship with God and allow us to be victorious in our struggles with Prince of Darkness.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved of the God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Material goods and physical possessions are THE focal point of human thought. Our carnal minds tend to see only the superficial. Men are measured by their physical abilities and success is judged by material assets. There is seldom a day that passes without us wishing we had this or that, usually in abundance. We even misunderstand those things we count as necessities.

The Lord has promised to provide for our needs, even more than He does for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field Matthew (6:26-33).  Our priority needs to be seeking God and His righteousness. But even here, we will respond to the physical. Too often our prayers are filled with words of thanks for things. “Thank You for our home, our food, our clothing, and all the many blessings You have given us.”

These are good words, as are the words, “Thank You, most of all for Jesus, who died on the cross for us.” But are we seeing the true picture? Are we improperly regarding the gifts of Him, who loves us, and failing to properly recognize the Love of Him Who Gives?

Lord, may we not be guilty of placing more value and esteem on the gifts than on the Giver!

As a preacher and an avid reader I am always on the lookout for good reading materials and study guides, both for my personal growth and as recommended tools for those to whom I preach. So when I heard of Andy Deane’s new book, Learn to Study the Bible (40 Bible Study Methods) I was intrigued. I checked the web page and found it a very pleasant visit. The site give the visitor a chance to see the table of contents, view a video presentation, and even read a sample chapter of the book itself!

It appears to me that Deane has provided a little something for everyone, whether a new student of the Bible or someone familiar with the sacred writings but looking for a new approach. And all for a very affordable price of $13.99!

I don’t know the author of this little poem, or i would give credit to him or her. I plan to use it on Sunday on a lesson frm James 3:1-12, Bridling the Tongue. I thought you might enjoy it too.

I lost a very little word, only the other day;
It was a very naughty word I had not meant to say.
But then, it was not really lost—when from my lips it flew,
My little brother picked it up, and now he says it too!

I was a high school when I heard the only sermon I have ever heard delivered directly on the sin of gluttony. (I was still skinny back then). I was an usher that day, so I was in the foyer when the service ended, so I got to see an exchange that I still laugh about to this day.

The preacher had hardly entered the foyer when he was buttonholed by a man who was a bit agitated. He pointed out to the preacher that he disagreed with his message that morning. He had his Bible out and opened. He wanted the preacher to hear a passage that he believed justified his eating habits.  

The verse is Proverbs 28:25, and it was the King James Version that was being used. It says, “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife, but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be made fat.”

I spent Monday visiting a friend of mine in a detention center run by a corporation, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security. His name is Angel, and I met him through an outreach program in our congregation that we call, Friend Speak. In the program we use simple texts from Scripture to help folks that want to improve their English speaking capabilities.

I met Angel seven or eight years ago. He is from La Paz, Bolivia. He was already fairly proficient in his English, so most of what I help him with was diction and working on his accent. We became close enough friends that he spent holidays in our home. And one night a couple of years ago when he awaked very ill in the middle of the night, he knocked on my door and asked me to take into the emergency room, which I did.

Angel has been trying to obtain asylum in the United States, ever since he arrived here more than 19 years ago. His lawyer only sought the path of asylum even though there are two or three other options that were available. Some people who apply for multiple paths find one works better than the other for them. I do not know all the details of the process, but I do know that a few months ago Angel was told that he had been denied asylum. His lawyer told him that there was an appeal that he could make, and Angel believed that the appeal had been initiated. But last week INS officials came to his workplace and took him into custody. They denied to let him even make a phone call to his lawyer before he was arrested and taken to the detention center.

His lawyer came to the place that Angel was being held and asked him for $2200 that would be used for a bond to allow him out of jail, pending his appeal. But early the next morning he was taken to the Bolivian consulate and was told that there was no appeal filed on his behalf. Apparently the lawyer was only trying to secure $2200 before Angel was taken back to Bolivia.

There is a very thin hope that an appeal can be filed and Angel allowed to stay in this country. But it is more likely that he will return to La Paz within the next day or two. He has a positive attitude, though he is saddened at the prospect of having to leave. He says he believes God has a plan and he wants to accept it like a man of faith.

God go with you Angel.

(first posted at qassia)