March 6
Read: Philippians 3
There are two references in Paul's epistles to people whose "god is their bellies". One of them is here in Philippians 3:19 and the other in Romans 16:18, where the Bible records, "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Neither reference is complimentary toward the parties being discussed. In Philippians, they are described as "enemies of the cross of Christ, having destruction as their end, who glory in their shame, and who mind earthly things."
It's not too hard to find contemporary parallels. Every church has their share of the unregenerate and carnal. They baffle born-again believers by their apparent obstinate refusal to allow the Word and the Spirit to make any impact on their lives. They may be in the church every time the door is open, but you really have to wonder why they bother. Every word our of their mouths, every attitude they evince is further evidence of selfishness and self-centeredness. Its not hard for anyone indwelt by the Spirit of God to see the very same things that Paul saw, that these are indeed the enemies of the cross of Christ, worshippers of their own bellies.
But if that's all we see here we have missed something important. Look at Paul's attitude. In verse 18 he says of these, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping..." Although Paul was quick to warn the Philippian believers concerning these folks, he shed tears as he did it. Paul was grieved over the condition of these people, even though he recognized them as serious problems for true believers. He was saddened to the point of weeping. I can see him sobbing as he prays over them, asking God again and again how they could remain in this condition.
Beloved, is this our attitude toward those whose "god is their bellies"? Are we grieved by the hardness of their hearts and burdened because of their ultimate end? Are we lifting them up to God, pleading with Him to do a work in their hearts only He can do? Or are we harsh, hard and judgmental, having given them up to the enemy?
Jude 22-23 describes a special group of believers with these words, "And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Let's determine we will be part of that group.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
The Danger of Affluence
March 3
Read: Deuteronomy 31:14-30
A church we once attended had a special prayer group that prayed during the morning service. There were typically three persons assigned at a time. They went into a basement room during the service and prayed for God’s blessings and power on the preaching, the singing, the praying and the entire service. One morning when my wife and I had a turn in the closet, we were accompanied by a businessman who was a member of the church. The conversation wandered onto investments and savings, and the businessman was lamenting a significant loss in recent months. After he spoke of it, he looked at us and said, as if he were just thinking of it, “Oh, but you guys live by faith.”
I understood what he meant. He was simply saying that as supported missionaries, we probably didn’t or couldn’t rely on a monthly dividend check to get us through. And he was right. We were accustomed to going to God for our needs and seeing his blessings upon our lives. Certainly he had enough money in the bank that he never had such concerns.
But the Bible says a number of times, “The just shall live by faith.” That doesn’t mean we should all take a vow of poverty, but it does mean we should be looking to God as the supplier of our needs and not our bank accounts or our employer or especially the state. The danger in having too much is that we cease to see God as the source of everything and start to rely on ourselves or on someone else.
Moses, in Deuteronomy 31:20, predicted what would happen to the Israelites when they got into a land of plenty. “For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.” He essentially says when they achieve affluence, they will forget me. What was true of the Israelites has been true of every civilization God has chosen to bless. Western Europe, blessed of God and affluent, has reached a point where they rely on themselves. Respect and love for God is nearly dead in those countries, and evangelizing in them, according to one well--known preacher, is like planting okra on concrete. Unfortunately we seem to have forgotten the penalty for apostasy is judgment (see Judges, entire book; and consider the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities).
Trying to keep your balance when everyone else is losing his can be quite a challenge. I suggest we consider carefully the words of the wise man in Proverbs, who wrote in chapter 30:8-9, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: Deuteronomy 31:14-30
A church we once attended had a special prayer group that prayed during the morning service. There were typically three persons assigned at a time. They went into a basement room during the service and prayed for God’s blessings and power on the preaching, the singing, the praying and the entire service. One morning when my wife and I had a turn in the closet, we were accompanied by a businessman who was a member of the church. The conversation wandered onto investments and savings, and the businessman was lamenting a significant loss in recent months. After he spoke of it, he looked at us and said, as if he were just thinking of it, “Oh, but you guys live by faith.”
I understood what he meant. He was simply saying that as supported missionaries, we probably didn’t or couldn’t rely on a monthly dividend check to get us through. And he was right. We were accustomed to going to God for our needs and seeing his blessings upon our lives. Certainly he had enough money in the bank that he never had such concerns.
But the Bible says a number of times, “The just shall live by faith.” That doesn’t mean we should all take a vow of poverty, but it does mean we should be looking to God as the supplier of our needs and not our bank accounts or our employer or especially the state. The danger in having too much is that we cease to see God as the source of everything and start to rely on ourselves or on someone else.
Moses, in Deuteronomy 31:20, predicted what would happen to the Israelites when they got into a land of plenty. “For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.” He essentially says when they achieve affluence, they will forget me. What was true of the Israelites has been true of every civilization God has chosen to bless. Western Europe, blessed of God and affluent, has reached a point where they rely on themselves. Respect and love for God is nearly dead in those countries, and evangelizing in them, according to one well--known preacher, is like planting okra on concrete. Unfortunately we seem to have forgotten the penalty for apostasy is judgment (see Judges, entire book; and consider the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities).
Trying to keep your balance when everyone else is losing his can be quite a challenge. I suggest we consider carefully the words of the wise man in Proverbs, who wrote in chapter 30:8-9, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Glory in the Lord
March 2
Read: 2 Corinthians 10
In a world of more and more extremes, the use of superlatives has become so common as to render them virtually meaningless. One of my favorite contemporary examples is an explosion of Chinese restaurants called, “Number 1 Chinese Restaurant” or “Best Buffet”. The owners have obviously picked up on the tendency of diners to gravitate to award winning establishments. In order to attract paying customers, they just went ahead and awarded themselves the title of “best” or “number one” from the outset.
Believers can easily fall victim to the same mind set. Paul describes this in 2 Corinthians 10:12. He writes, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” It seems there were a number of believers who spent much of their time comparing individual walks with God. This judgement relies on a number of purely superficial indicators, such as how often I go to church, whether I say “amen” in the service, how I dress, whether I read my Bible, and other similar. This is not to say that any of these are not important for the believer. Every Christian should attend services regularly, pay attention to the preaching of the Word, dress in a way that would please the Father, study the Word, and pray. But its possible to do all these things and have a heart as wicked as the devil himself. I can’t judge what’s on the inside of you, and that’s where the most important work is done.
These folks were looking at these externals in others, comparing them to the same externals in themselves, and deciding how “spiritual” they were. They were measuring themselves by themselves. Paul says simply that in doing so they are not wise. He talks briefly of his own ministry in verses 13-16, then sums up the whole discussion in verses 17-18. “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”
Beloved, let’s be careful not to evaluate our own spirituality in terms of others. Each and every Christian is a particular and specific work of the Holy Spirit whose goal is to make each like Christ. We all come to the process with a unique set of weaknesses and strengths, talents and handicaps. When we compare ourselves with others we can almost always find an area in which the other has a weakness, thereby accentuating our strength. The ultimate result is spiritual pride.
The standard to which we attain is not our neighbor, but Christ. He alone is a model worth emulating. He alone is perfection in every aspect of his being. If you must have a goal, make it Jesus.
Also, we should always remember the limitations that exist in our ability to judge. Just as God told Samuel, “Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart”. Verse 18 tells us clearly that what we say (or think) or ourselves is not nearly as important as what God thinks of us. The key to living a successful Christian life is not “Am I better than John?” but “Am I pleasing to God?”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: 2 Corinthians 10
In a world of more and more extremes, the use of superlatives has become so common as to render them virtually meaningless. One of my favorite contemporary examples is an explosion of Chinese restaurants called, “Number 1 Chinese Restaurant” or “Best Buffet”. The owners have obviously picked up on the tendency of diners to gravitate to award winning establishments. In order to attract paying customers, they just went ahead and awarded themselves the title of “best” or “number one” from the outset.
Believers can easily fall victim to the same mind set. Paul describes this in 2 Corinthians 10:12. He writes, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” It seems there were a number of believers who spent much of their time comparing individual walks with God. This judgement relies on a number of purely superficial indicators, such as how often I go to church, whether I say “amen” in the service, how I dress, whether I read my Bible, and other similar. This is not to say that any of these are not important for the believer. Every Christian should attend services regularly, pay attention to the preaching of the Word, dress in a way that would please the Father, study the Word, and pray. But its possible to do all these things and have a heart as wicked as the devil himself. I can’t judge what’s on the inside of you, and that’s where the most important work is done.
These folks were looking at these externals in others, comparing them to the same externals in themselves, and deciding how “spiritual” they were. They were measuring themselves by themselves. Paul says simply that in doing so they are not wise. He talks briefly of his own ministry in verses 13-16, then sums up the whole discussion in verses 17-18. “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”
Beloved, let’s be careful not to evaluate our own spirituality in terms of others. Each and every Christian is a particular and specific work of the Holy Spirit whose goal is to make each like Christ. We all come to the process with a unique set of weaknesses and strengths, talents and handicaps. When we compare ourselves with others we can almost always find an area in which the other has a weakness, thereby accentuating our strength. The ultimate result is spiritual pride.
The standard to which we attain is not our neighbor, but Christ. He alone is a model worth emulating. He alone is perfection in every aspect of his being. If you must have a goal, make it Jesus.
Also, we should always remember the limitations that exist in our ability to judge. Just as God told Samuel, “Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart”. Verse 18 tells us clearly that what we say (or think) or ourselves is not nearly as important as what God thinks of us. The key to living a successful Christian life is not “Am I better than John?” but “Am I pleasing to God?”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
How Far Will You Go?
March 1
Read: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33
In 2 Corinthians 11 the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, began to list some of his qualifications for ministry. It is interesting to note the progression here, as he begins by giving his Jewish heritage in verse 22. He then goes on to list as his qualifications some of the obstacles he had overcome in the course of his ministry for Christ. Winding through a long list of imprisonments, stonings, beatings, shipwrecks, and physical discomforts, he displays them as credentials for ministry. In effect, he tells them how far he was willing to go in the service of their faith.
The restatement of his personal qualifications had been required because questions had arisen in Corinth concerning Paul’s apostleship. Even though he had been used of God to bring the gospel to Corinth and had doubtless been instrumental in building the church there, there were some who began to chafe under Paul’s authority and teaching and desired to follow a different path. They began to question his qualifications for ministry in hopes of undermining that authority.
Paul’s response was simple. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he simply described the lengths he had gone to minister to them. The unasked question then became, “Can you really doubt the ministry and love of a man who has gone this far for your sake?” Paul went far, far beyond everyone else, and as a result he could point to a ministry in which the power of God was clearly visible even in Corinth.
If someone asks us to describe our qualifications for ministry, how would we answer? Would we point to our Bible college or seminary degree, or our twenty-plus years on the church roll, or maybe to our children who are faithfully serving God? Or could we, like Paul, simply point back to a life given over in sacrifice for the good of others? Would we fall back on theological arguments, such as the sufficiency of Christ or the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer, or would we point to the changed lives of our family, friends, neighbors and others?
How far will we go on behalf of Christ and others? Are we willing to sacrifice our standard of living to send the gospel to the world? Or is our giving simply out of our abundance (leftovers after the bass boat and the vacation in Disneyworld)? Can we give ten minutes out of our day to share Christ with the store clerk? Are we willing to drop late night television for the sake of leading our family in daily devotions? Is my neighbor’s spiritual welfare important to me at all?
We in the church talk a good game. We come to church, partake of the activities (as long as they aren’t too spiritual), and go home feeling good about ourselves. But for many, many, many of us that is as far as we will go. Any discussion of going to the mission field, getting involved in discipleship or using my gifts for the service of others falls on deaf ears. There is a line drawn which we will not cross.
Christian, Jesus intended for each generation to reach each generation. Even the most casual observer would be forced to conclude this generation is not getting it done. Our commitment to Christ and to the lost simply doesn’t go far enough.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33
In 2 Corinthians 11 the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, began to list some of his qualifications for ministry. It is interesting to note the progression here, as he begins by giving his Jewish heritage in verse 22. He then goes on to list as his qualifications some of the obstacles he had overcome in the course of his ministry for Christ. Winding through a long list of imprisonments, stonings, beatings, shipwrecks, and physical discomforts, he displays them as credentials for ministry. In effect, he tells them how far he was willing to go in the service of their faith.
The restatement of his personal qualifications had been required because questions had arisen in Corinth concerning Paul’s apostleship. Even though he had been used of God to bring the gospel to Corinth and had doubtless been instrumental in building the church there, there were some who began to chafe under Paul’s authority and teaching and desired to follow a different path. They began to question his qualifications for ministry in hopes of undermining that authority.
Paul’s response was simple. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he simply described the lengths he had gone to minister to them. The unasked question then became, “Can you really doubt the ministry and love of a man who has gone this far for your sake?” Paul went far, far beyond everyone else, and as a result he could point to a ministry in which the power of God was clearly visible even in Corinth.
If someone asks us to describe our qualifications for ministry, how would we answer? Would we point to our Bible college or seminary degree, or our twenty-plus years on the church roll, or maybe to our children who are faithfully serving God? Or could we, like Paul, simply point back to a life given over in sacrifice for the good of others? Would we fall back on theological arguments, such as the sufficiency of Christ or the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer, or would we point to the changed lives of our family, friends, neighbors and others?
How far will we go on behalf of Christ and others? Are we willing to sacrifice our standard of living to send the gospel to the world? Or is our giving simply out of our abundance (leftovers after the bass boat and the vacation in Disneyworld)? Can we give ten minutes out of our day to share Christ with the store clerk? Are we willing to drop late night television for the sake of leading our family in daily devotions? Is my neighbor’s spiritual welfare important to me at all?
We in the church talk a good game. We come to church, partake of the activities (as long as they aren’t too spiritual), and go home feeling good about ourselves. But for many, many, many of us that is as far as we will go. Any discussion of going to the mission field, getting involved in discipleship or using my gifts for the service of others falls on deaf ears. There is a line drawn which we will not cross.
Christian, Jesus intended for each generation to reach each generation. Even the most casual observer would be forced to conclude this generation is not getting it done. Our commitment to Christ and to the lost simply doesn’t go far enough.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Angel of Light
February 28
Read: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Not all that glitters is gold. Similarly, not everyone that claims to be a follower of Christ is what he claims to be. We are frequently warned in Scripture to beware of the counterfeit, the false and the apostate. Jesus mentioned the deceivers in Matthew 24:4-5. Peter covers the same ground in 2 Peter 2:1 and John in 1 John 4:1 says “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 warns of deceitful workers who transform themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for the devil himself is transformed into an angel of light. It follows that his servants would present themselves as ministers of righteousness. We must be constantly on guard to ensure we are not deceived by the powers of darkness posing as preachers and teachers of righteousness.
Whenever I am reminded of that I think of the Old Testament prophet in 1 Kings 13. The prophet was sent by God with a message for Jereboam the king. Delivering the message, God authenticated it with special signs. Jereboam invited the prophet to go home with him, but the prophet informed him that God had instructed him neither to eat nor drink while on his mission and to return home via a different route.
The Bible continues to tell of an old prophet in Bethel whose son told him of the man of God who visited Jeremiah. The prophet of Bethel followed after him and invited him to come aside and sup. The man repeated God’s instructions, that he must neither eat nor drink until he had returned home, but the prophet from Bethel told him, in 1 Kings 13:18, “...I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.” The first prophet believed him and went with him, not discerning that the message was not from God, but from his enemies. Because of his disobedience, the prophet was killed by a lion on the way home.
The old prophet from Bethel was a lion in sheep’s clothing, or a devil cast as an angel of light. He had the right look, he said the right things, but he was a liar. Through deceit, he diverted the prophet of God from his appointed path to a road that ultimately destroyed him.
In spiritual warfare, there is an enemy and there are casualties. Day after day, lives are destroyed, ministries ruined and souls condemned to a Christless eternity through the efforts of the master of deceit. Today, brethren, let’s be alert to the enemy and his devices. Keep your life pure. Let your spiritual senses be honed sharp by the Word of God and amplified by the work of the Spirit in your life. As is so succinctly written, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Not all that glitters is gold. Similarly, not everyone that claims to be a follower of Christ is what he claims to be. We are frequently warned in Scripture to beware of the counterfeit, the false and the apostate. Jesus mentioned the deceivers in Matthew 24:4-5. Peter covers the same ground in 2 Peter 2:1 and John in 1 John 4:1 says “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 warns of deceitful workers who transform themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for the devil himself is transformed into an angel of light. It follows that his servants would present themselves as ministers of righteousness. We must be constantly on guard to ensure we are not deceived by the powers of darkness posing as preachers and teachers of righteousness.
Whenever I am reminded of that I think of the Old Testament prophet in 1 Kings 13. The prophet was sent by God with a message for Jereboam the king. Delivering the message, God authenticated it with special signs. Jereboam invited the prophet to go home with him, but the prophet informed him that God had instructed him neither to eat nor drink while on his mission and to return home via a different route.
The Bible continues to tell of an old prophet in Bethel whose son told him of the man of God who visited Jeremiah. The prophet of Bethel followed after him and invited him to come aside and sup. The man repeated God’s instructions, that he must neither eat nor drink until he had returned home, but the prophet from Bethel told him, in 1 Kings 13:18, “...I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.” The first prophet believed him and went with him, not discerning that the message was not from God, but from his enemies. Because of his disobedience, the prophet was killed by a lion on the way home.
The old prophet from Bethel was a lion in sheep’s clothing, or a devil cast as an angel of light. He had the right look, he said the right things, but he was a liar. Through deceit, he diverted the prophet of God from his appointed path to a road that ultimately destroyed him.
In spiritual warfare, there is an enemy and there are casualties. Day after day, lives are destroyed, ministries ruined and souls condemned to a Christless eternity through the efforts of the master of deceit. Today, brethren, let’s be alert to the enemy and his devices. Keep your life pure. Let your spiritual senses be honed sharp by the Word of God and amplified by the work of the Spirit in your life. As is so succinctly written, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
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