The Heaton File

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

Special People For Christ

Jesus Christ came to save all men from their sins and express to fallen man the love of His Father. His death on the cross was the historical moment in time tying together the beginning of time to an eventual demise of the world. God’s purpose in sending His Son was to open up the avenue of eternal glory where creation could worship the Creator. The theme of the Bible is the redemption of man and the praise of the Lord God who saved man through His grace. Nothing is more fundamental to the life of the Christian than believing that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God and through His blood the forgiveness of sins is granted. Jesus death on the cross came at a price and He paid the ultimate price as an innocent sacrifice. What is central for those who follow Him is that being a disciple of Christ also comes at a price and there is a purpose for the life of glory seen in their lives. Proclaiming oneself to be a Christian requires living a life of godliness, sobriety, and righteousness with expectation of an eternal reward. Professing to be a Christian and living hand in hand with the world denies the kingship of Christ making His sacrifice of no avail to a heart filled with worldly lusts. There is a marked separation of those who profess Christ as Lord. The word of God teaches the disciple of Christ to deny the ungodly lifestyles of the world such as drunkenness, sexual immorality, lying, stealing, anger, hatred and a host of ungodly attitudes and actions characteristic of unbelievers. Jesus gave Himself so that those who followed Him were special people. They live pure lives. Their hearts are filled with love and compassion. Fidelity is their badge of honor. Truth fills their hearts as their tongues speak grace in the ears of hearers. Christians stand out in the world of darkness as special lights of Jesus Christ. He died so that His followers could be special.

Many who profess Christ as Lord deny His authority in their lives as they live with ungodly and worldly lusts still central to their lives. Serving the ideal of Christianity but not accepting the removal of those things that bring harm to the soul is a common problem among many in the church world. The Lord’s church is filled with hearts that serve Him outwardly but inward spirits of carnality measure the actions of the person. People of God are special people and should act, think and be examples of why Jesus died for them. The Son of God gave Himself to redeem His followers from the lawless actions of the world and Christian’s need to stop following the lawless deeds of the world. Being zealous of good works is what separates the child of God from the children of the devil. If the world cannot tell the difference between the two then it is certain the Lord sees the difference. Living soberly is to remove all forms of intoxication and passions from the life of the Christian. Self-restraint is a virtue of godly people. Righteous living is knowing what is right and following the law of God as the rule of life. What is right is right because God said so. Godly living comes from hearts that are seeking the blessing of the Father. Christians should live each day longing for and expecting the coming of Christ. There is an air of expectation in the heart of those who look for the return of God’s Son. All of this speaks to the character of those who are special for Jesus Christ. He died so that His disciples would be His own possession and a peculiar people.

The grace of God has appeared to all men teaching them to change their lives. All those who come to the cross of Jesus must look upon the dying Savior and be changed. Not all who come to the cross will do so and continue to live in a manner that brings shame upon the name of Christ. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is to teach the principles of separation of those who call themselves Christians to follow a path of purity in serving the purpose Jesus came to earth. Denying ungodliness is to remove those influences of worldly lusts from the heart, the home and the life of the Christian. The Christian is a special person. He is redeemed by the blood of Christ for a special purpose. There must be a marked change in the life of the Christian showing how Jesus has changed the heart to think pure thoughts and live in godliness. A zealous heart for Christ exalts the grace of God in every part of life. Be a special person for Jesus Christ today.

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18-20)

Faith Shipwrecked

The early church faced many obstacles with division, greed, neglect, self-seeking men imposing their rule upon others, disorder in public worship and apostasy. Satan began immediately to shake the foundation of the kingdom and succeeded in drawing disciples of Christ to him. Paul sternly warned in his letters the cost of allowing the leaven of sin to penetrate the fabric of the New Testament church. Much of his writing is devoted to combating the many fires begun by the ungodly attitudes, doctrines and practices of those who sought to corrupt the purity of the gospel. The Jewish question had to do with imposing the Law of Moses on the followers of Christ. Gentiles brought the baggage of idolatry into the doctrines of Christ corrupting the pattern and design of the church. Immorality caused the souls of many saints to stray from the truth. One of the most fundamental teachings of the new covenant was the belief in the resurrection of Jesus and yet there were some who began to preach a denial of resurrection. There would be time given to patiently teach those in error but when all efforts were exhausted and hearts refused to change the power of God’s wrath was executed upon those who rebelled. Paul warns in his first letter to Timothy the dangers of straying from the course of faith in the troubled waters of apostasy pointing out two individuals who had shipwrecked their faith.

There is very little information about Hymenaeus and Alexander. Hymenaeus will be mentioned again in the second letter Paul writes to Timothy as a man who denies the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Alexander could be referred to in other passages but it is unclear which Alexander Paul addresses. Regardless, these two men were children of God who had tasted the heavenly gift and enjoyed the spiritual covenant with God as saints, disciples and Christians. However their faith was not grounded on the purity of God’s word but rather they chose to follow after the wisdom of men to blaspheme and reject the teachings of Christ. Paul exhorted Timothy to wage a good fight in keeping the faith pure and not allowing men like Hymenaeus and Alexander to move him away from the hope of the gospel. Men of faith can be moved by the philosophies of men and lose their faith. Many in the religious world teach that a child of God can never lose their salvation. In the words of Paul those who can never lose their salvation can never shipwreck their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two men who walked away from Jesus and went their own way. Concerning the faith they suffered shipwreck. A ship that is shipwrecked does not float, cannot be serviced for anything and will sink. Faith can be destroyed in the lives of God’s people if they allow Satan to influence them and draw them away. When men persist in turning away from God they will sink into the mire of apostasy and without repentance lose their souls. Faith shipwrecked is faith lost.

Life is likened to that of a ship sailing the wide oceans of the world. There are no landmarks to determine the course so sailors rely on what they see above. For centuries the stars guided men across the deserts of land and the oceans of the earth to move from place to place. When the compass was discovered it continued to guide men but the best compass was not kept on the deck below where iron would disrupt the magnetic field but rather at the top of the mast away from all influences below. So it is with faith that it must be guided by that which is above so that nothing contrary would change the course of a person’s life. Hymenaeus and Alexander no longer looked above for their wisdom but relied on their own carnal wisdom to serve themselves. Denying the resurrection is creating a totem of self-worship that always ends in destruction. Paul charged Timothy to wage a good warfare against the wiles of the devil seeking to shipwreck the faith of God’s people. Hymenaeus and Alexander should be monuments of what happens when men leave the pattern of God’s word. Rejecting the only way, the only life and the only truth is denying the only hope of salvation man has. Stay the course. Do not lose faith.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:9-10)

Fellowship With Christ And One Another

In the Garden of Eden God saw that it was not good for man to be alone so He created the woman to be a helpmeet for the man completing his need for companionship. The establishment of the home is the first level of personal connection man has. It is there he learns the value of family and kinship. Blood relationships are very strong sharing in the nature of common values, ideals and goals. Families united together are very strong bonds of community that make unbreakable ties binding hearts and souls together as one. Men united together for a common cause build nations and establish a long history of communal strength that last for ages. The strongest bond man has known is found in the community of believers that have made up the brotherhood of godly men and women serving the true and living God. Noah and his family saved the world from complete annihilation because they were united together for the common cause of righteousness in a world given over to everything unrighteous. Abram was called away from his home as a man who ruled over his house united under the banner of faith that God would care for them. His family would become the seed promise to fulfill the plan of redemption in Jesus Christ where all the nations of the world would be blessed. In the fullness of time man’s redemption was found at the cross on Calvary where Jesus died and shed His blood to purchase the church, the family of God. There is no longer a distinction made between Jews and Gentile for all men are one under Jesus Christ. United under the flag of grace the blood of Christ draws men from different walks of life, diverse backgrounds and a multitude of personalities to be one in the body. On the day of Pentecost three thousand devoted people from various nations came together as the first converts to form the beginning of the church of Christ. What happened next was a remarkable story: they had fellowship with one another.

As the early church grew there were questions on how to mix together the people that would become known as Christians. In the church of Corinth there were factions of people who followed Peter, some who were aligned with Apollos and others who fancied themselves followers of Paul. The unity of the spirit of God was divided through carnal minds seeking to establish their wisdom by the philosophies of men rather than the pure gospel of Christ. Forgotten by the Corinthian brethren was the fellowship they all shared with the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He was their Lord. They were to serve Him. All of them were to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. If they were all to serve Him they should remember they have the same fellowship with one another. God was faithful to unite them as one in the body and they had forgotten to keep that unity in their relationship with one another. It was easy for them to see their fellowship with the Father but they refused to acknowledge their fellowship with one another. What they failed to understand is that without fellowship with their brethren there could be no fellowship with the Father. Every Christian is called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ which demands a fellowship with one another.

The result of their carnal minds led the Corinthian church to be divided into factions. They were divided under the flag of confusion, distrust and disfellowship. Fellowship with Christ demanded fellowship with one another. This communion came from their unity of speech in the same mind and the same judgment. Fellowship suggests having things in common with others unified with the same hopes, goals, aspirations and purpose. As people of God there is a unity of spirit to hate sin, exalt righteousness and seek those things that are above where Christ is. Albert Barnes said, “They are united in feelings, in interests, in dangers, in conflicts, in opinions, and in the hopes of a blessed immortality.” Fellowship is having a common bond for the desire of eternal life together will all the saints of God from every nation and from every age. If fellowship cannot be achieved in the church of Christ here on earth it is going to be very difficult to imagine fellowship in Heaven with all the saved from time beginning. Every member should strive to learn to power of spiritual fellowship binding the hearts of God’s children together as one so the world can see the grace of Christ living in the hearts of saved people. God is faithful to call us into fellowship with His Son. We must be faithful to call others into the fellowship of brother love.

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)

His Way Is Always Best

The evidence of creation is a testimony to the incredible nature of God’s design and purpose that man struggles to accept. From the beginning of the world, the thumbprint of the Creator is clearly seen in the workings of nature and in His word revealed to all those who will believe in the providential care of the heavenly Father. Everything continues as it has from the day it was created. Light fills the expanse in the perfect order as determined by the word of the Lord on day one. The firmament established on day two remains intact and the seas and bodies of water continue to remain in place as does the dry land. Every morning the sun rises as it did when the first man Adam looked upon its warm radiance. The moon and stars remain the same as those who guided Abram to his promised land. Waters abound with an abundance of living creatures as the skies fill with every winged bird according to its kind and the land is filled with cattle and creeping things and beasts. The order of the planet called Earth has continued in its pattern since its first creation eons ago. Everything has its perfect order. The sun is the exact distance from the earth to fill it with warmth and sunshine. The stars remain in their orbits instead of crashing upon the face of the earth destroying human life. Life continues in its natural form as created by the hand of the Lord. The human body is a wonderful testimony to the incredible design of the Lord from conception, birth, early life and old age. Throughout the years of life God’s evidence is magnified to the divine pattern of wisdom. All of this is given for man to consider the work of God and see his need to depend on the Creator for everything he needs. Man cannot change the order of creation established by God.

When man finally comes to know the design of a Creator he learns the will of the Father. God has revealed Himself through the natural world and shown man how to save himself from the harmful consequence of carnal wisdom. Satan has always attacked the plan of the Lord subverting the wisdom of divinity for his own brand of lies for the sole purpose of destroying what God has created. He is limited to only influencing man. He cannot force anyone to obey him. One of the great testimonies of the father is His providential care of His people. When man learns to submit to the will of God he learns to trust in the plan of God. Often the reason that man suffers is because he thinks he knows more than God and chooses to devise his own plan. True wisdom comes when man will trust in the way of the Lord and follow the instructions of the divine will. Like the testimony of creation, the word of the Lord is perfect and designed for man’s completeness. Whether it is a day of prosperity or time of adversity, trusting in the Lord will see a purpose and plan that God has worked in the life of the believer. Like in creation man may not fully realize why the sun is exactly the distance from the earth as it must be; trusting in the providential care of the Father in the life of the believer will create in the soul of man the trust to see things through by the hand of God. Considering the work of God is seeing Him in creation and acknowledging the presence of the Lord in every day of life as His testimony that He will not leave nor forsake His people. God is in control whether man believes it or not. It benefits man to see God in the world and brings eternal joy when man embraces the grace of the Father and His will.

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.

Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.

Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.

 Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.

 (Psalm 119:129-136)

He Loves The Word Of God

There is nothing more soothing than spending time in the word of God drinking deeply from the eternal springs of God’s abundant grace. The happiness of man has always come from the relationship shared between the creation with his Creator and the acceptance of divine wisdom above human wisdom. Satan attacked the word of God in the beginning and destroys the happiness of man when he tempts man to turn away from the holy commandments of the Lord. Those who are full and live with greater joy are those who love the word of God spending many hours delving deep within the fabric of holiness, truth, righteousness and the love of God. The testimonies of the Lord inspire the mind to stand in awe of the majesty of the Lord to consider the plight of man, the needs of humanity and the wonder of His witness through creation and the revealed word. From Genesis to the Revelation, the Holy Spirit opens the mind to things so incredible and beyond the comprehension of man. The unfolding of the word of God spreads light in a dark world so that man can see himself more clearly and understand the nature of his Creator. No book has ever equaled the power of the Bible to reveal the nature of man and his need for salvation. The common people understand its simple message. There is no need for a college education to know the truths of God’s word or to possess an intellectual mind of great wisdom to chart the vast expanse of the precepts of the Lord. All men can read and understand the mind of God revealed in the Bible to make them wise unto salvation and live a holy and godly life in a world of darkness.

The psalmist is emotional about the word of God. It is not merely a subjective view of commands, precepts and laws. Reading the words of the Father brings about a hunger and thirst for the knowledge of God as a man panting for water to drink. There is a deeply moving and powerful passion to the message of hope contained in the commandments of the Lord. Often people view commandments as burdensome. The psalmist realizes the power of keeping commands as a blessing not an affliction. Because of his knowledge of the word of God the psalmist fell deeply in love with the name of God. This shows an immense feeling of trust for the word of God to guide his life as a light to a dark path. There are four specific things that are sought by the psalmist. He asks God to look upon him, direct his steps, redeem him from oppression and allow the face of God to shine upon him. What he desires most from the Father is mercy. He prays that no iniquity have dominion over his life as he abides in the word of God and that he is saved from the oppression of man. His desire is to learn the statutes of truth and righteousness. He is fully devoted to the word of God. There is not a spirit of doubt in his mind. The word of God is the fullness of his heart, the measure of his steps and the focus of his mind. Keeping the commandments of the Lord is a joy for the man who loves the Lord.

There is a final observation the psalmist makes in his declaration of love for the word of God. It is a rarity in a world of intellectual prowess to find a man who is emotional about what he reads from the word of God. It pains the heart of the psalmist that men do not keep the law of God. Let those words sink deep in the heart and take time to meditate upon the consequence of what it means that men refuse to follow the word of God. How tragic a life that is not lead by the testimonies of God. There is nothing more sad or full of remorse to see lives directed by the carnal pleasures of an empty life that find no joy in life and no reward in death. Rivers of water ran down from the eyes of the man who loved the name of God and the word of God because men did not keep the law of the Lord. When was the last time you and I had an emotional moment of remorse at the condition of man? The tears of the psalmist were full because he knew what joy was found in keeping the precepts, commands, laws, statutes and judgments of the Lord and yet most men pay no heed and give no regard to the word of God. Today the Bible is the fully revealed mind of God showing man the grace, love and mercy of God to a lost and dying world – and sadly the majority of people do not care. It grieves the heart of the psalmist to see men turn from the word of God. There should be such love today when we see the lost condition of our neighbor, coworker, friend and family member. Fall in love with the name of the Lord and let the word of God direct your life, redeem your soul and find the blessing of God’s face shining upon your heart.

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:5-13)

Persistent Prayer Proves Powerful

Jesus was not only the master teacher but He was also the powerful example of prayer life. He spent a lot of time in prayer and spent a lot of time praying. It was a vital part of the Lord’s life to spend time talking to His Father. After one occasion of praying His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. Giving them a model for prayer, Jesus teaches them that prayer is not a vending machine where a quarter is deposited and some product comes immediately out to satisfy the whims of the soul. Prayer can only be as powerful as the persistent spirit of the one seeking the blessing of God. The parable of the friend at midnight is a vivid example of how prayer often must be accompanied by the persistent petitions of the disciple. Midnight was not a safe time to be out and in most cases was a very inopportune time to be asking for favors from a friend. After the shadows of night fell upon the home, most families prepared to lock doors and windows and settle in for a nights rest. Callers at midnight would raise an alarm and be most inconsiderate of those who would call upon them. The friend coming at midnight would have been in dire straits to call upon a neighbor to assist him at that hour. Urgent in his plea was the need for three loaves of bread to care for his hosts. At first the man approached would have been upset to be risen out of bed and awakening the whole family. The doors were shut and the children were asleep. Proper consideration would not have expected the man to disturb his family at this hour. The relevance of the story is based upon the continual resolve of the man in need to beg the man for three loaves of bread. Following the persistence of the man asking for bread the man of the house would rise and give him all the bread he needs to be rid of him and return to his sleep. In telling parables Jesus uses real life stories to illustrate sometimes multiple points and sometimes just a single thought. It should not be considered that God is unloving in giving His blessings as the man would have been frustrated at the continual begging of the man for bread. The Father is more than willing and able to give what His children need. Jesus points out that praying to the Father is not a magical formula of repeated words but a heart that is fully devoted to seeking the favor of the Lord in persistence, tenacity, diligence, resolve and determination of answered prayer. The ears of the Lord are always open to the pleas of His children and the Father will always bless those hearts that are seeking Him fully with love.

Prayer is seeking the promises of God. It requires patience to pray. Learning how to pray and how often to pray is the foundation of seeing how prayers are answered. How prayers are answered and in what form resides in the mind of God but He wants His children to seek Him often and sometimes seek His favor in a persistent and constant manner. Answered prayers come from asking the Lord for blessings, seeking the will of the Lord in the heart and knocking on the door of His love to receive answers to prayer. There are some prayers that require a lot of time, effort and energy to receive a blessing. Too often prayer is viewed in the sense that asking demands an immediate response to the level of the one seeking the blessing. God answers our prayers according to His wisdom; not ours. What we want most of the time is not what we need. The Father knows what we need more than we and when we pray to Him He grants what we need according to His wisdom alone. Often that comes in conflict with what I want and that is why prayer sometimes is misunderstood. When I ask the Lord for a blessing He will grant that blessing – in His way. The Lord will never give us something we do not need. If a child asks his father for bread would the father give him a stone? Of course not. That would be a cruel thing to do. Why would we think that any prayer God answers from me would be bad for me? Prayer is asking the Father for the greatest blessing man can know and whatever the Father gives is the greatest blessing I can receive. God is always right – about everything. If the Lord answers prayer by not granting what I want then it is what I need. Jesus begged His Father to remove His cup of suffering and the answer was a cross. Thank God for that answer. The death of Jesus was the answer of the Father to His Son. What love is shown in the answered prayer of Jesus as the Father watched His Son die.

Prayer can only be as powerful as the persistence of the person who believes in the will of the Father to grant all good things to His children. Everything God gives us is for our betterment and glory. If our earthly fathers give us good things to please us and take care of us; how much more the heavenly Father will give us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Prayer is not demanding things of God. We cannot come to His throne and tell the Lord God Almighty what we want and how our prayers must be heard and answered. Whether God says yes or no or maybe or there is a different way or whatever the answer will be there is nothing that is found in answered prayer that will wrong if it is His will. Every prayer that is answered is the right answer. Keep knocking on the door and asking for bread. Persistent prayer is powerful prayer. Keep on praying. Never stop asking: it pleases the Father to hear your voice.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Three Things God Has Given Us

The people of God have always been a fearless group of devoted, dedicated and decided individuals who changed the world they lived in. Noah lived in a world filled to overflowing with wickedness and he faced the dark forces of Satan firmly trusting in the grace of God. Abram would leave a home of seventy-five years for a journey lasting a century based upon a complete trust in the word of the Lord and belief that what God said would come to pass would be fulfilled. Moses brought the people of God out of Egypt through the power of the Lord and led a rebellious, murmuring and unthankful nation to the promised land. The shepherd boy David stood in the valley of Elah and faced a man so huge no human dared challenge him but with determined faith in the power of God and a single stone in his sling delivered the head of Goliath to victorious Israel. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and all the prophets were men of courage who faced persecution from their own brethren for preaching the truth and yet never wavered or faltered in the face of trial. The great apostle Paul faced death knowing his time was near and rather than seeking pity from his protégé Timothy exhorted him to renew his courage with the gift of God that would empower him, fill him with love and establish the heart in the soundness of God’s word. Three things that will help the child of God overcome the challenges of life and live a productive, full and hopeful life.

Christians are not to be fearful people. As the elect of God there should never be a spirit of fear because everything that brings fear and dread was taken away when Jesus rose from the dead. The greatest fear man had is death because of the wrath of God. Jesus did not come to take away sickness, poverty or political upheaval. He came to give men peace through the power of the Father’s grace. As saints of the Lord the people of God are powerful spirits that fight against the wiles of Satan and win. Timidity is not in the language of the victorious soldiers of the cross. The strength of character comes from the knowledge the battle is won, Jesus is victorious and there is nothing to dread or fear. God has given His people a spirit of power to overcome sin. Everything man needs to live a godly life is provided by the Father. There is a form of holy courage that gives the heart of the Christian strength to bear up under trials, stand against evil and live with hope of heaven in their hearts. Perfect love casts out fear. God has given His people a spirit of love to seek Him and to forgive one another. This kind of love creates a bold mind that will trust in the will of God and to share that courage with others. The spirit of love teaches forgiveness, patience, longsuffering, faith and trust. One of the hallmarks of the church is the character of love the people of God show for one another and how that loves is given to a lost and dying world. Love is the action of a heart filled with gratitude for the mercy of God. It does not rest on the words of love to prove itself but in the working hands that are showing God’s love to others.

God has given His children a spirit of soundness that comes from His power and His love. The sound mind is not a doctrinal attribute that necessarily adheres to all the right regulations to describe what is sound and what is not. Paul suggests in the use of the sound mind the spirit of sobriety and clarity. It is here the Christian shows his forethought concerning the spiritual things of God as his guiding light. With discretion the child of God weaves his way through life looking to the law of God as his light, the commandments of the Lord as his guide and the will of the Father his voice. Soundness comes from the spirit of power and love manifested through the actions of the heart that is influenced by the presence of the Lord in the actions of the individual. Overcoming the perils and trials of life cannot be accomplished without a sound mind able to discern the response to the fiery darts of the devil. Facing the attacks of the evil one must be tempered with a mind able to make the right decisions and follow the right course. God has given His people the spirit of victory wrapped up in the mantle of love that they may fight the good fight with the faith to overcome. Christians are fearless people, resilient, overcomers, victory driven and faith filled souls that believe in the power of God.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

The Eyes Of The Lord

During the period of the divided kingdom in Israel, evil kings reigned in the north and a mixture of good and bad kings ruled in the south. Asa, son of Abijah, was a king remembered for doing what was good and walking in the ways of the Lord. For the most part his reign was characterized by many reforms that brought the people back to serving the one true God. For thirty-five years the southern nation thrived under the leadership of Asa and had peace. Near the end of his forty-one year reign, Asa made a treaty with Ben-Hadad king of Syria to fight against his northern brethren and King Baasha king of Israel. Instead of relying on God to deliver him from the threat of his northern rival, Asa choose to ask a heathen nation to fight for him. Hanani the seer came to Asa and rebuked him for his unwise treaty with Ben-Hadad and reminded the king of the eternal nature of God. Because of his actions, king Asa had allowed the Syrians to escape unharmed and punished his own brethren. When the Ethiopians and Lubimians came against Asa with a great army the Lord delivered the king and yet now he relied upon the Syrians to fight his battles. His faith had waned and trusting in other nations to do battle was an affront to the Lord God.

Hanani reminded the king of the character of God as he described the eyes of the Lord going throughout the whole earth looking for those men and women who stand for truth, righteousness, holiness and godliness in their lives whose hearts are loyal to Him. It is a fearful thing to be reminded of the ever present presence of the Lord in every part of life but it is a blessing to those who are seeking the Lord. It must be made clear there is nothing done that God does not see. Men try to hide their sins through subtle means of discretion but the Lord sees all things as if in the day. There is no place on the earth that man can go that God is not already there. The highest mountain or the deepest sea cannot hide what man will do and trying to cover sin in the darkness of the night will only be exposed by the clarity of God’s eyes. While this knowledge should cause all men to fear it should also be a blessing to know the Lord looks for those who are faithful to Him serving with loyal hearts. Serving the Lord can be a thankless life in the eyes of the world. No one especially cares if a person is of pure heart, holy hands or clean spirit. These are attributes that often bring ridicule instead of praise. Noah and his family had so little to rely on as the world was completely given over to wickedness but the Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. By grace he was saved along with his family because of the favor he found before the Lord. Hanani was thrown into prison after his rebuke of Asa and God knew that and cared for the seer. Jesus would later tell His disciples the Lord was concerned for all the sparrows and not one falls that God is not aware. What a blessing to know the Father cares so much for His own.

There are many things to become despondent about and to think the efforts of living a righteous life is of little value. It does not become a matter of holy pride but a need to feel the worth of living separate from the world. One of the reasons many lose their faith is the inability to stave off the criticism from those in the world and realize true worth comes from the eyes of the Lord and not the opinions of the world. The knowledge of God is so vast He cares for every soul whose heart is loyal to Him. He knows their name, where they live, what they do, the trials they face and the struggles they lose and most importantly the strength of their heart to serve Him in truth. The child of God is never alone. There is never a time when the Father is not aware of the cries of the child, the prayers of the righteous and the hopes of the downtrodden. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth seeking and finding the faithful. Hanani says that not only does God know who these saints are but that the Father show Himself strong to them encouraging them to keep the faith, finish the race and fight the battles in His name for victory. No Christian should think they serve the Lord alone. There are myriads of fellow Christians who struggle with their faith and who need the assurance of fellow brethren to encourage them. If all else fails and no one is left in this world of sin, God is always there. Trust in Him and let His strength infuse His spirit in the heart to know He cares, He loves and He knows.

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

Trouble In The Church

It is hard to believe that within the body of Christ trouble would arise. As a group of saved individuals striving for the perfection of Jesus Christ and working towards a heavenly goal, it would seem that everyone would work together in harmony of love, grace and kindness. This is not the case with tragic results. The reason is simple: the church is made up of people and every effort Satan can use to discourage and create disharmony in the kingdom of God he will use to his evil advantage. From the beginning of the church the devil put doubt and fear in the hearts of brethren who were selfish as they exalted themselves above others creating division. Anything God creates Satan tries to destroy. He came into the Garden of Eden intent on dividing man from God and succeeded. The early world was destroyed through the influence of Satan and when the Lord raised up Israel Satan corrupted the apple of God’s eye. It comes as no surprise the church will be filled with divisive, contrary and self-seeking individuals who do not serve the Lord but their own desires and wills. The early church had their problems with Christians named Ananias, Sapphira, Diotrephes, Alexander and Hymenaeus. These children of God did not serve the Lord in purity of heart but their own bellies of greed, pride and faithlessness. What is sad is these people were in a covenant with God as saints but turned away to the wiles of the devil.

When the church has trouble it comes from the spirit of those who would cause division. Failing to see the unity of the Holy Spirit in the work of the church, men arise that leave the true work of saving souls to harvesting bitterness by dividing the spirits of God’s people. Through smooth and easy speech they convince others to follow their cause. The reasons are not because of scripture but their own wisdom that deceives the hearts of the weak in faith. With flattering and beguiling words they convince the simple minded to follow their cause creating an atmosphere of division among the people of God. What happens in the end is they have those who follow them in a cause that is unrighteous, unjust and unholy. The followers are bitter, angry and distrusting of others. Paul warns these contentious brethren should be noted for their divisive spirit and avoid them at all cost. There is a good reason to stay away from people like this. They are brethren which can deceive the hearts of those who cannot discern truth as clearly as the mature. Their motives are selfish and demonic. It seems hard to believe this would be the spirit of some in the church but like Israel of old there are those who serve themselves and not God.

The pattern of church discipline is clear for those who are divisive. This kind of action is specific and directed toward a certain group of individuals. Over the years the admonition by Paul has been misused against all that are disciplined within the church and while there are specific actions that must be directed towards those who are in sin, avoiding them is not always the solution. Those who need to be avoided are those who will come into the hearts of the simple minded and lead them away to their own destruction. With smooth words and flattering speech these individuals will confuse the hearts of brethren convincing them with strong arguments to follow their cause. Trouble within the church will increase because of their influence. These brethren must be avoided at all costs to ensure the purity of the church. It is vital for true minded brethren to work diligently to keep the church holy and without blemish from the wiles of the devil. Church discipline is a serious matter and must never be taken lightly. The Holy Spirit clearly admonishes those who are divisive and cause offenses to be avoided and marked as rebellious children of God. Prayers must be lifted in the hope they will see the error of their way and return to a faithful walk of harmony with Christ. There will always be trouble in the church because it is made up of people but when the brethren stand for truth the trials of persecution will be met with love, firmness and devotion to God.

I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken. Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:121-128)

The Word Of God Is Truth

There is no message as clear and powerful as the word given to man from his Creator. Contained within the harmony of its eternal scrip, the Bible is the evidence of the nature of all things that are right and just in the world. There are many books that have been made through the millennia of time but no scroll, tablet, or instrument of man’s wisdom can attest to the incredible truth found in the word of God. The author of the psalm has immersed himself in the knowledge of salvation given to him by the Lord and decided to direct his steps in accordance with every teaching. His foes abound who seek to oppress him but he is undeterred. Many will seek to bring to naught the power of the word of God and their efforts will all end in failure. Justice and righteousness come from the word of God because it is divine truth. Only through the power of God and His abundant grace is hope rekindled in the heart of the downtrodden. Serving the Lord brings goodness and blessings from the hand of the author of hope. No book written by man can deliver the soul from despair. Revealing His nature to man, God opens up His message of grace to the ears of those who would seek Him and desire to be taught by Him. The world does not believe in the authority of scripture. Religion is built on the sands of carnal wisdom. Justice and righteousness can only come from the mouth of God.

Facing the trials of life, the word of God will give solace and comfort. Whatever oppression the author was experiencing is not known but the nature of persecution is the same. There is a rejection of truth for the lie and Satan has done well to deceive the hearts of the world to disregard the word of God. From the beginning of time the Lord has revealed Himself and most men will not listen or heed His commands. Whatever is right and true comes from the only source of authority and that is the word of God. The statues of the Lord are true and righteous. God is the creator who formed man and knows what will fulfill his purpose in life. Without the word of God men will oppress one another as they seek to bind their own laws upon others. The reason wars and conflicts arise is because of those who believe their way is right and just. Without the word of God nothing is true. Every pebble and grain of truth comes from the hand of God. The confidence of the psalmist is to rely solely upon the commandments of the Lord to guide his feet. Faith overrides the feelings of doubt as the message of God’s love permeates the spirit of those who dwell in His word. If the world regards the message of the Lord as void it does not change its power. Truth is never measured by error but established by the mouth of God.

The Bible is the mind of God revealed to man. To gain the most from its pages the heart must love its purity, simplicity, power and ageless wonder more than anything in the world. Men will spend lifetimes seeking after fame, fortune, pleasure and adventure coming to life’s end empty, miserable and poor. Death is the great divider that takes away every dream a man seeks in life and leaves it behind. Loving the commandments of the Lord will not only give happiness in this life but the reward to eternal happiness in the presence of God. Gold is a powerful temptation for man and fine gold has greater value. Compared to the righteous word of truth found in the bible, gold is fleeting and of no value. The psalmist knows that keeping the word of God brings more riches than the possessions of the world. Every precept of God is right because truth is God. When the heart surrenders its will to the truth of God’s word those things that are false will be hated. Faith comes by believing that when the Lord speaks there is no other voice to listen to or heed than its message. Let the word of God speak to your heart and guide your feet in the way of justice and righteousness. The end will be greater than the beginning.