The Heaton File

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews, and Greeks. (Acts 19:8-10)

Preaching Is Persuasive Arguing

Preachers come in different shapes, sizes, and dispositions. The Old Testament prophets were a mixture of personalities ranging from Isaiah and Daniel’s stately presence to the rough and harsh world of Amos. Jesus selected twelve men who could not have been more different from one another and in stark contrast to the teachers of their day. The style of the apostle Paul was not like Philip or Peter and especially not as the orator, Apollos. One of the essential commonalities of the New Testament preachers is found in the preaching they engaged. By his own admission, Paul was not a man of stellar presence when it came to his preaching. His focus was on preaching Christ and Him crucified. Nothing else mattered to Paul, and he devoted his life to preaching the risen Christ. What distinguished his preaching was the manner of his presentation.

When Paul went into the synagogues of the Jews, he preached a bold message. He was not there to preach the words of men or try to impress others with his style. The synagogue was a hostile place to preach the message of the Messiah who died on a Roman cross. The word of God fortified Paul’s boldness. His style was to reason and persuade his hearers to understand the gospel of Christ. In fact, the preaching of Paul was persuasive arguing. Like Peter on the day of Pentecost, he did not hesitate to show Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. The kingdom of God was preached before all those who would hear him without reservation. It was not a time to tell stories, engage the audience with banter, or impress the crowds with entertainment and fanfare. Paul came to preach. He came to argue in a manner that would convict men to repent and turn to God.

Preaching is about discussing the word of the Lord and engaging in conversations designed to change the heart. So much of preaching today is more about the “feel good, health and wealth” philosophies of men allowing the audience to enjoy a moment of spiritual euphoria with little or no lasting impact on life. Faith comes from hearing the word of God. Deep faith is built upon a foundation of sound doctrinal teaching that storms the soul with the ‘dunamis’ or power of God. The message must argue against vain doctrines and teachings of men. Preaching must convict, reprove and move the heart to action. Paul reasoned and daily discussed the merits of divine grace in the school of Tyrannus because the gospel was about finding the pearl of great price. Knowledge comes from digging for the truth.

The character of preaching is three-fold. There must be a message and someone to hear the message, and the transmission of that message must be clear. Preaching is not hard. When a man preaches God’s word, he does not have to find knowledge because that knowledge has been once delivered to all the world to understand. He should never hesitate to preach the whole counsel of God. Preaching anything less is not preaching. Paul spoke boldly; he reasoned and persuaded and daily argued the word as the word of God and not men. All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus because the preacher they listened to preached the word.

But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here. (John 14:31)

The Pivotal Moment In The Life Of Jesus

He knew He came to die for the sins of all mankind. As God, He did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but willingly offered His body as the Lamb of God for a bloody sacrifice. His journey began when he was thirty years of age, and in less than three years, He would die on a Roman cross as a common criminal. Throughout His ministry, Jesus spoke of the day when He would go to Jerusalem, where He would be treated with hatred by the people and die on the cross. Afterward, He would rise from the dead, but this would not happen without the journey to Golgotha. The scheme of redemption was planned in the eternal halls of God’s grace. Jesus knew when His hour would come.

On a quiet evening in an upper room, the Lord shared the solemn meal of Passover with the twelve apostles as He had done the past few years. His hour had come, and He knew His death was drawing near. First, He knelt before the twelve men and washed their feet. They did not understand the significance of His humility until Jesus explained the nature of servitude. His example would set the scene for the coming crucifixion. Judas would excuse himself from the gathering leaving Jesus with the eleven disciples telling them what He was about to do. And then came that pivotal moment when Jesus tells the eleven it was time to leave. Rising, He tells the disciples they must leave the upper room.

Going down the steps into the city, Jesus and His disciples begin walking toward Gethsemane. As the Lord walks along, He continues to tell the eleven about the ministry they will embark upon in the coming days, months, and years. They are unaware of how clear these words will ring to them as they recount this journey outside Jerusalem. At the same time, Judas has found the leaders who seek the death of Jesus. Soldiers have been secured, the Jewish leaders have gathered a mob together, and following Judas’ instructions, they make their way to a specific place in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus often went. It is unclear if Judas first went to the upper room and, not finding Jesus, took the mob to the garden. As Jesus arrives in the garden, he takes Peter, James, and John a short distance away and begins to pray. Shortly after He prays a third time, Judas arrives, and Jesus is arrested. Early the next day, the Son of God is condemned to death, taken to Golgotha, and crucified. Hours later, Jesus dies.

It is difficult to describe the suffering of Jesus. He knew He would die a horrible death. His love for the apostles was overwhelming, and His love for Judas was found in a bowl of water and the hands of the Lord washing His betrayer’s feet. Everyone knew the precursor to crucifixion was the savage beating called scourging. Each man would then be compelled to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion and thrown to the ground where he was nailed to a cross. He was then lifted up to suffer the most excruciating, humiliating, and painful death known to man. Death would be desired but fleeting. Mercifully, Jesus would last only a few hours before succumbing to the horror of Roman execution. Armed with this knowledge, Jesus made a fateful decision in the upper room when He said to His disciples, “Arise, let us go from here.”

When Jesus told the eleven they must leave the upper room, Jesus had fully committed Himself to the plan of His Father. His leaving the upper room proved two things. First, it proved His love for the Father. The world would know that Jesus loved His Father because He arose and went to Golgotha. Second, His leaving the upper room shows the world that He was obedient to His Father’s commandment. Before time began, God gave Jesus a command, and now Jesus was fulfilling that command. None of this could be done until Jesus left the upper room. It was a decisive moment in the life of Jesus, but more than anything, it was a crucial moment in every person’s life on earth. Had Jesus not left the upper room, there would be no joy and no peace. Thank God Jesus said, “Arise and let us go from here” so that all men can die with the words on their lips, “Arise and let us go to the Father.”

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

Never Satisfied

There is never a time when a child is not growing. Growth is a sign of a healthy child as the body is designed to change over time, becoming more stable and mature for life’s challenges. Without the process of growth, the child would die or be deficient in many ways. It is vital to experience change to grow taller, learn to walk and talk, increase knowledge, and strengthen the immune system against disease. What is necessary for the physical body is of paramount importance for the spiritual man. The nature of humanity is made up of the mortal body and the eternal spirit. In time, the mortal body will decay and die. The eternal spirit, which is the true nature of man, will never cease to exist. Growth of the eternal spirit is a continual journey or abounding more and more in the process of spiritual growth.

Jesus told Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born again. The illusion of birth is the beginning point of the Christian journey. Peter would encourage his readers to desire the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby. The Hebrew writer chastised the Jewish Christians for not maturing to a spiritual level of understanding and remaining as needing milk instead of solid food. There are many examples of the need to grow in Christ, mature in the faith, and solidify trust in the Lord given throughout scripture. Paul’s admonition to the church at Thessalonica was to exhort them to not only grow but to abound more and more. He wanted to see more growth in their lives. They should not be satisfied with where they were spiritually. He urged them and exhorted them to excel more and more in all things.

One of the amazing things about the word of God is how one can read, study, examine and unlock so many mysteries contained on its pages and, at the end of the day, realize that only the surface has been opened. Men who have studied scriptures all their lives will be amazed at a new teaching or learning as if it were on the page for the first time. As well versed as some can be of the Bible, no man possesses all the knowledge of truth. A discovery awaits each time the book is opened. This should make every Christian realize the potential for growth and the need never to be satisfied with where they are in their relationship with God. Abounding more and more expresses the deep desire that at no time in life will there be a time to be satisfied. Each new day is a new horizon to understand a little more about the divine grace of the Lord.

Paul outlines an essential lesson for the Christians at Thessalonica to abound more and more so they can face the temptations and trials of life. The will of God is for His people to be sanctified or set apart from the world. A Christian should not engage in fornication or uncleanness and to walk properly toward those who are not Christians. This can only be done by a diligent effort never to be satisfied with where the heart is on the spectrum of God’s knowledge. Abounding more and more is a cure for what ails the human spirit – sin. If a person is too busy growing in Christ, they will not have time to wallow in sin. Abounding more and more is never to be satisfied. Do not stop, slow down or give up. The more you grow, the healthier you become. Holiness comes from excelling in Christ. Never be satisfied.

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. (Malachi 1:1)

The Weight Of The Word

The burden of the Lord is a manner which the prophets used to describe the message they preached to the people of God. It was a term generally used of a weighty, threatening prophecy and considered an oracle from the Lord. The preaching of the prophets was during a time of great upheaval in the nation of Israel. Isaiah used the burden of the Lord often in his prophecy of Israel and the degradation it had become as a nation with impending destruction. He referred to the burden against the nations around Israel with God’s wrath coming upon them for their evil deeds. Nahum wrote of the burden against Nineveh and Habakkuk of the burden which he was compelled to write. Zechariah brought the message of God to Israel as the burden of the word of the Lord. The final scroll in the ancient canon begins with the burden of the Lord’s word to Israel by Malachi.

Truth has never been convenient and popular. Like a millstone or heavy weight, the word of the Lord hangs heavy on the hearts of those who cannot abide in its doctrine. Jeremiah spoke of the impact of the word of God upon the hearts of unbelievers like the chaff blown away by the wind. Truth was like wheat falling to the ground possessed of substance and value. The word of the Lord is the chaff to those who are unwilling to accept divine truth but nourishment like golden wheat for hearts that are open and receptive to the manna of God. There is no difference in the word of the Lord as it remains the same. It is in the reception that a man accepts or rejects the nature of God’s truth. For one, it becomes a burden hard to bear. They are unwilling to accept the word of God. Their hearts are filled with the carnality of human wisdom, allowing no room for the seed of the Lord to grow in their hearts. For many desperate souls, the word of God was a reproach that found themselves so offended by the message they were unable to bear it. The truth remains the word of God is written to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Following Jesus requires a burden, but it is light and easy to bear. There has never been a time God has required anything of man to hard and impossible to reach.

The reaction to the word of God has been the deciding factor for those lost and saved. When a young man came to Jesus seeking eternal life, he was unwilling to carry the burden of truth. Jesus told him to sell all he had, give to the poor and follow Him. He refused. The Jews of Jesus’ day would not acknowledge Him as the Son of God even in the face of the miracles and teachings of the Son of God. They killed Him on a cross. While many obeyed the gospel in the early days of the church, many more rejected and refused to believe Jesus was the Son of God because the word was a burden they could not bear. Obeying the gospel is a heavy burden. Jesus described it as a cross to bear. When a man is unwilling to pay the price for salvation, there can be no hope. If he views service to God as too high a price to pay, he will refuse and be lost. Like in the days of Malachi and the prophets, the word of the Lord is a burden.

Religious groups today treat the word of God disrespectfully when they refuse to follow its teachings. God’s word is written in a manner a man can read and understand the Father’s will. The word of God can become a burden too heavy to bear, and a man refuses to obey; or it can become a burden that releases the guilt of sin from a downtrodden heart with joy in eternal life. Malachi’s message was a stern message to preach and harder to accept. Those who changed their lives because of his message learned to value the burden of the Lord. The people who were offended by his message refusing to change their hearts learned the lesson of God’s wrath. God’s word: is it a burden you want or one you refuse?

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3)

A Really Big House

There have been billions upon billions of people that have lived on the earth since the beginning of time. Only God knows the number of souls that are born and died. When the world is destroyed, that number will be known to the Lord as all humanity stands before Him in judgment. Out of the untold numbers of people standing before God on the final day, only a small percentage will enjoy the pleasure of eternal glory and rest. Jesus startled the multitudes with the knowledge that few are saved. Most souls will be cast into the lake of fire. With the small amount of saved among the incredible number of people who have walked on the face of the earth, the number is staggering. Is there a place where all these unknown numbers of people will be in eternity? Can there be an abode large enough to house the righteous? On the night of His betrayal and arrest, Jesus comforts His disciples by assuring them God has a place fully capable of caring for the faithful.

The cross is only hours away as Jesus spends His final time on earth. He knows there will be many questions and uncertainty from the eleven as they realize the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The gospel is to be preached to a world lost in darkness, and souls will be added to the register of the saved. A little over a month later, three thousand devout Jews become the first members of the church of Christ as they obey the will of the Father. Multitudes will be added in the years to come. Over the next centuries, many more will find the grace of God and put on Christ in baptism. Before time ends and the judgment of God comes, untold multitudes will accept the message of salvation found only in Christ Jesus. Regardless of the number of the saved, God has a house large enough to house them all.

Square footage is an essential part of a house. The size of the house is necessary to know if there is enough room to live. When Jesus described the preparations made to house the righteous in eternal glory, He speaks of His Father’s house filled with many abiding places. There will be no lacking for all the righteous from the beginning of time until the last and final day. Imagine the size of the house of God. When John describes the new city in the Revelation, it becomes a city 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide, and 1500 miles high. This is figurative language to describe the immensity of the dwelling place of God. There are no limitations. Everyone who names the name of the Lord will find the house of God fully capable of housing them. Again, these are terms to describe an eternal reality with earthy visuals.

The house of God is prepared to receive every soul that seeks the gift of God. There will be no overcrowding because everyone will find joy in the presence of the Lord. The way of salvation is what Jesus prepared at the cross. Before time began, the house of God was ready to receive the faithful. Regardless of how large that number might be, God has all the room necessary. Jesus opened the door to the house of God. Eternal life will be granted to those who have obeyed the voice of the One who is the door of the sheep. There is nothing to worry about. The house of God is big enough for everyone with room to spare. There is room for one more – you.

And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are my son, today I have begotten you.” And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: “I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Therefore He also says in another Psalm: “You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 13:32-35)

Corruption Is The Penalty Of Sin

Billions of dollars are spent every year developing, marketing, and purchasing products that attempt to prolong youth and extend life. It is a profitable business because the reality is that nothing man can do will inhibit aging and death. These are certainties in life that no cream, medical procedure, or scientific breakthrough will change. The Egyptians tried to find eternal life and failed. All the marketing ploys of modern advertising will not give years back or turn back the time clock. Attempting to look younger is a waste of money and time. Antiaging products fly in the face of reality. Try as they might, people grow older every day, and their bodies reflect the aging process.

Before the advent of modern medical forensics, it was understood that when a death occurred, the body would not show signs of corruption until the fourth day. Often the bodies would be taken by the family, and a wake would be held to honor the dead and to mourn their passing. Before the fourth day, the body would be entombed. Any time after this and visible signs of decomposition would become apparent. This was the case, especially in the time of Jesus, as the Jews held strict compliance with burial before the fourth day. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the people were astonished because the dead man would have had an obnoxious odor. The miracle’s power was that He raised him on the fourth day, and He came forth alive without the stench of death.

The body’s corruption can be explained to the atomic level of medical science, but God explained the decay process in the Bible. When the Lord placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, He commanded them to eat of every tree but the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The penalty for disobedience was death. Satan deceived Eve, and Adam also took of the fruit in disobedience to the word of God. They did not die immediately – at least physically. God had told them they would die, and He referred to the relationship between man and God. It was not until Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden and access to the tree of life denied the full penalty of their disobedience became clear. No longer able to eat of the tree of life, Adam and Eve would die. Adam lived for 930 years, and he died. He was buried somewhere, and his body began to decay. In a short time, everything that was the physical body of Adam disappeared. Abel was the first recorded death in the Bible by the hand of his brother, Cain. Abel’s body began to decompose and suffer corruption. Every person who has lived on the face of the earth has suffered the corruption of the grave—all but Jesus.

Jesus died on the cross Friday afternoon. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus and placed it in a sealed and impenetrable tomb the same day. Early on the morning of the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead. It was not a coincidence that He rose on the third day. David wrote in Psalm 16 the Holy One would not be allowed to suffer corruption. The body corrupts physically because of the penalty of sin. It is a gruesome, horrid, and sickening process to witness the body’s physical decay. On the fourth day, the evidence of this process becomes abundantly clear, and in a short time, the putridity of decay impacts all the senses.

Jesus’ body did not experience this corruption because Jesus did not experience sin. The penalty of sin is corruption, but He did not sin, and the Father would not allow His body to experience the physical body’s corruption. God promised to raise the Holy One from the dead, and the resurrection would not endure the corruption of the flesh. Jesus was raised from the dead, no more to return to corruption. David saw corruption when he died, as do all men. Jesus did not. The resurrection happened on the third day according to the will of God to show that while the curse of sin is upon all men because all men sin, Jesus rose from the dead without corruption and sin. This was the same message preached by Peter on Pentecost to prove to the Jews that Jesus was the Holy One. Jesus was alive, but He was more than alive. He did not suffer corruption so that all who call on His name could experience the incorruptible glory of a new body in the final resurrection. Where there is no sin, there will be no corruption. Praise be to God for the promised body that fades not away, eternal in the heavens.

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (John 19:19-20)

Jesus And The Tower Of Babel

The early world that began with such promise ended in the global destruction of everything with the breath of life, including every man and animal. Only the remnant of grace found in the ark was spared the destruction. Sin had cast men from the garden. Cain killed his brother. The genealogy of humanity continued a course of wickedness until it repented the Creator that He had made man. Preserving the promise made in the garden, the Lord told Noah of the impending doom and what he must do to be saved. Noah did according to the word of the Lord, saving his household and a remnant of animals.

Soon after the flood, it became clear that while God’s wrath had destroyed everyone on earth but eight people, sin still ruled in the hearts of men. Noah became a farmer and grew a vineyard after which he made wine and got drunk. His son Ham shamed His Father and was cursed. Sin had not been taken away, and the heart of men grew worse. In time, the multitude of humanity gathered in the plain of Shinar and, fearful of what happened to their ancestors, decided to build a city and a tower to reach into the heavens. The purpose of their plan was to make a name for themselves lest they are scattered over the face of the earth. Seeing the unity of their sinful hearts, the Lord came down and confused their language. Until this time, all men spoke one language. So, the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.

The flood did not answer the problem of sin. Through the carnal wisdom of humanity, sin was intensified with pride leading the charge against God. The tower of Babel was representative of how man tries to deal with his failure. Instead of seeking the will of the Lord, the sinful heart turned to self and sought to find answers in the flesh, the exaltation of human wisdom, and the pride of human achievement. None of these would save man from the wrath of God. The flood indicated the immensity of God’s power of destruction, and only by grace were eight saved. Noah and his family were not saved because they were sinless. The grace of God favored them to carry on the promise of the Seed given in the garden. After the flood, the world continued to be held captive to sin.

God promised Adam and Eve that a Seed would come that would bruise the head of the serpent. Jesus Christ was the Seed promise carried through the centuries as the covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and realized in the Lamb of God’s birth by Mary, wife of Joseph. Jesus’ life was forged on the anvil of self-sacrifice, love for the Father, and a will to carry the burden of sin upon His shoulders. The Jews rejected Jesus of Nazareth as God’s Son and had Him crucified by the Roman authorities. As the Son of God was nailed to the cross, Pilate made a fateful decision that would hearken back to Babel as a reminder of the power of sin. It was a common custom to affix a label to the cross, stating the crime for which the person suffered. Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek so that many people could read it.

Three languages were affixed to the cross of Jesus to tell the story of saving grace. He was the answer to sin. His blood would bring men to the Father. Prophetically poised above His head, the Son of God was the one who divided the world into languages. He knew at the tower of Babel that He would pay the price for sin. Men would struggle to answer sin, but Jesus knew His life would be cast as the mold of eternal life. At Golgotha, three languages reminded humanity of their failed attempt and exalted the Son of God as the only answer to sin. The world is filled with many languages, but the language of grace is only found in Christ. Men tried to reach heaven by building a tower. God opened heaven by raising His Son on a cross. There is no hope in a tower. All hope is in the cross.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Sin – Only $19.95 – But Wait

Advertising is a billion-dollar industry that consumes every facet of social media from television, magazines, billboards, the internet, and radio. Without advertising dollars flooding the market, products would fail, and economies would collapse. The purpose of marketing is to sell a product to a particular group at an appealing cost, using a myriad of schemes to convince the buyer of the necessity of having the object. One of the most critical parts of the selling game is how to price the commodity.

The public is not as quick to accept certain price offers, and marketers know this. There is a mind game that goes on in setting a product for sale. Most consumers will balk at being asked to buy something for $20.00, but if the item is marked five cents less, there is a greater chance of success. $19.95 is five pennies short of $20.00, but a person is more likely to buy the same product at the lesser price believing they are getting a much bigger deal. Also, it has been proven that if a man is asked to give $19.00 for something and he offers a twenty-dollar bill, he will tell the person to keep the change. The small variance in price is of little consequence. Sales for $19.95 are more appealing than sales for $20.00. What will sweeten the attraction is if, after offering the product for $19.95, the announcer says, “But wait, we will double the offer!” Now the consumer is offered twice the amount for the same price. The cash register continues to ring the vesper chimes of advertising dollars at its best. This is the same reason many charitable causes appeal to the audience for just $19.00 a month; they can change a life. The price is too good to pass up.

While Fortune 500 companies have found many innovative ways to market their products to John Doe of Main Street, USA, they pale compared to one of the most insidious marketeers of human history. His brochure is sleek, his presentation flawless, and the price irresistible. His first sale came when he sold the soul of Eve for $19.95 and then said, “But wait, I can have two for the price of one,” and took Adam also. Sin is never sold at a price it is valued. It is always devalued in the eyes of the consumer as something he cannot live without. A little bit of evil sounds better than a lot of evil. Most people will balk at becoming an adulterer, liar, and cheat on the first date but allow a little cheap talk first at a reduced price, and soon the heart is turned entirely to the wiles of the devil. Sin never comes packaged in its original wrapper. Satan will not come prancing down the street in a red suit with smoke coming out of his ears. He knocks on the door in a pair of tight blue jeans with an alluring smile that is almost too resistible. His offer is simple: $19.95. And if enough time is given: “But wait, there is more.”

Paul succinctly defined sin when he explained the full price. There are no bargains or sales when it comes to sin. The price for sin is death. It is eternal. There is no end. It will damn a soul to a fire that is never quenched, a darkness that never leaves, and indescribable horror. Satan’s great marketing ploy is to sell sin short, offer it quick, and take offers in the billions. There is nothing good in his product. Sin will destroy more lives than anything known to man. Death is the penalty of sin, and eternal death is the reality of sin. Satan never markets his product for the truth that it is. If a man knew what was at the end of the broad way of pleasure, sensuality, and wickedness, he would never accept the offer. The appeal of Satan is to sell sin short, and he is remarkably busy with prospects.

Salvation came at a high price. The cost was so high no man could pay it. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to DIE for all men. There is no cheap alternative. Satan sells souls cheap, but Jesus paid the price of crucifixion and death to redeem man from sin. To find salvation, a man must pay a high price. Jesus called it taking up a cross to follow Him. Most people want the cheap way out and accept the $19.95 ‘Ronco’ deal of the century, hoping they will get two for the price of one. They never do. Only in Christ Jesus will men find the gift of God is eternal life. If you are unwilling to pay full price, you cannot have it. When you take Satan’s offer of $19.95, you will regret it.

Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 1:8-10)

Speaking Evil Of Dignitaries

It is easy to forget that living in a country that affords freedom of speech that freedom of speech is not always granted in the kingdom of God. Liberties enjoyed from a secular government does not allow for freedoms under the law of Christ. There are two authorities in the world: the authority of men and the authority of God. The higher of two is the authority of God. God establishes every government, and it is according to the Lord when nations rise and fall. Resisting government is resisting God. The only time a child of God can stand against the laws of men is when those laws transgress the law of God. A man may not enjoy paying taxes, but Jesus taught those things required by Caesar are due to Caesar; those things due God are required by God. The only conflict is when God’s law is superseded. Until that time, every soul must be subject to the laws of the land.

Democracy is a fleeting mistress in the affairs of men. The United States of America is founded upon principles that all men are created equal and with certain inalienable rights. Over the history of America, this meaning has been redefined in many ways. Freedom of speech is one of the treasured parts of the constitution of the United States. Being allowed to express opinions and criticisms of government is a foundational trait of the American way of life. However, while enjoying the rights and privileges of the democratic system of government, the Christian is held to a higher law. One such challenge is the matter of freedom of speech.

In many countries of the world, harsh criticism and uncivil rhetoric of officials is severely put down. To do so in America is almost a badge of honor. Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, faced a world with corrupt government officials, wicked leaders, and a government corrupt from top to bottom. He reminds his readers that a Christian is sanctified by God the Father, and the behavior of those set apart must not be like the world. Living under the Roman rule of law would have been more oppressive than anyone has seen in the United States’ short history. In the face of such oppression and persecution, Jude challenges the spirit of those who would speak evil of dignitaries and reject the authority of the land. As an example of the reservation demanded by children of God, Jude shows that Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Michael was an archangel, but he knew his place before the Lord. Jude tells us this took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body. Nothing is known about the dispute between Michael and the devil, but the point is clear that when people speak evil of dignitaries, they sin.

Freedom in Christ is measured by the word of God. The child of God does not go on social media and lambast, accuse, revile, and speak evil of those in authority. It may be socially acceptable, but it is not the character of God’s holy people separated for truth, purity, and an example of holiness. It does not matter who is elected to be President or who is defeated; the Christian is not to speak evil of those in authority. Peter encouraged the Christians living under Caesar Nero to honor the king and to respect those in power. Grumbling, complaining and accusing – let it not be named among those who are of the faith of Christ. Follow the example of Jesus, who never reviled the government that was killing Him. You may have a right in America, but you do not have a right in Christ.

Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)

Teach Me To Walk In Truth

David had a deep longing to be as close to God as he could be. Everything about the life of the sweet psalmist of Israel was how he walked with the Lord. As a shepherd caring for his sheep, David felt the comfort of God’s presence to protect, provide, and lead him in the paths of righteousness. David was a man of prayer. He frequently spoke to his Father with longings to know more of His will, His way, and His work. The knowledge of the Lord was all that David needed to sustain him. He knew knowing the will of God would give him peace in a world of chaos. Facing his guilt of adultery, David remained steadfast in his devotion to God. When his sons turned against him, the embattled king retained his faith in the will of God. His desire to build a house for the Lord was an outgrowth of a yearning to exalt the name of the Lord for all the world to see. While he was forbidden from building the house of God, the heart of David spoke volumes to his love for God.

The life of David was remarkable because he understood the simple principle of personal growth. He knew his life could take the path of least resistance and rely upon self, or he could turn his life over to the will of God and find eternal security. This process of change could only take place when he was taught the way of the Lord. Most men did not desire the truth of God to guide their lives and took no occasion to know the word of God. David prayed to the Lord for the knowledge of the right way. He relied on the wisdom of God to teach him the way of truth. David wanted to mold his life to be an example of righteousness so that others could see God living in him. When Saul was trying to kill him, and on more than one occasion, David could have killed the king, he refused because he was the anointed of God. Even with the sin of Bathsheba, David showed the heart of devotion when he acknowledged his sin and begged forgiveness. He was not a man without sin, but he faced his sin with courage and faith. This type of devotion could only come from knowing the way of the Lord.

Life is a manner of walk determined by the wisdom of carnality, or God’s truth measures it. Knowing how to walk in the narrow path requires teaching. There is a responsibility that when knowledge is given, that duty demands action. Faith comes from hearing the word of God, and then action must come from that teaching to walk in the one way of truth. The purity of the heart does not come naturally. It requires instruction and walking or practicing the word that has been taught. David prayer to the Lord to teach him how to walk. He knew he could not walk in truth without the knowledge of God. He desired to live according to the truth of God. And he did.

David lived nearly three thousand years ago, but the principles of obedience remain the same. People of faith are praying people who desire to know the word of God and then allow their faith to be seen in the action of their example of walking in the truth. David wanted God to teach him. He told the Lord he would walk in truth. David also prayed for the Lord to unite his heart to fear the name of God. Three elements of a Christian’s life are found in teaching, walking, and uniting. The child of God needs teaching. They must learn to walk in truth, and their hearts must be filled with the respect of honoring the name of God with fear. Then a man can praise the Lord God with all their hearts and glorify His name forever.