Standing at the Gate

Ephesians 5:18 – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

That every believer has the Holy Spirit within them is clear. That every believer is not filled with the Spirit is equally as true. The supreme need for Christians in our day is to be filled with the Spirit. John R. Rice correctly said, “You cannot do God’s work without God’s power.” There are many Christians who do not know the blessing of yielding themselves to Holy Spirit, allowing Him to fill them to capacity, so that they may be used in fruitful Christian service. Christians should seek to be filled with the Spirit so that the lost will be justified, the saved will be edified, and Christ will be glorified!

When this truth is presented, some say that we need a mighty baptism in the Spirit. Others object to that terminology, and say, “Oh, no! It is not a baptism; it is the fullness of the Spirit.” Others say, “No, it is not the fullness; it is the filling.” Others argue still yet that it is instead an infilling.

Whatever you wish to call it, it is desperately needed! Our churches are suffering without it! This point is brought out well by William E. Boardman:

All real Christians agree that it is our privilege to be filled with the Spirit, and that this is the great need of the time. But when this privilege is unfolded and pressed as a baptism, or the baptism of the Holy Ghost, some start back at the term and just stand at the gate.

The New Jerusalem has twelve gates, and each is called by a different name. Yet all who enter by any one of the twelve are really in the City. It would be a strange thing if anyone approaching the gate of Benjamin, for example, should stop in it and quarrel with the overarching name and say, ‘It ought to be Judah or Ephraim, and not Benjamin,’ and so should block up the way.

Let me enter into the City by any gate and by any name and I will praise the name of the Lord, and will not dispraise the name of the gate.*

Whatever name you wish to give it, we desperately need to be filled with the Spirit! Fill us, Lord!

*Boardman, William E. In the Power of the Spirit. Willard Tract Repository. Boston, MA. ©1875. pp. ix-x.

Thoughts on II Corinthians 5

“What is your favorite Bible verse?” some may ask. I have favorite verses, but not a single favorite verse. By the time I determine that a certain verse is my favorite, lo and behold, I read another verse that becomes a candidate to be my favorite. There is a chapter in the Bible that contains several of my favorite verses, and that chapter is II Corinthians 5.

The book of II Corinthians is so named because it is the second epistle (letter) that Paul the Apostle wrote to the Corinthian church, or at least the second letter that we have preserved for us. In Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, we see the Corinthian church as a carnal, troubled church. No sane pastor would volunteer to serve as pastor of the church at Corinth. In Paul’s first letter to them, we learn that those in the church were steeped in favoritism (chapter 1); they were carnal (chapter 3); there was gross fornication among them (chapter 5); they were taking each other to court (chapter 6); they had questions regarding marriage and divorce (chapter 7); some were eating meat sacrificed to idols, knowing it was offensive to a weaker brother (chapter 8); they misused and abused the Lord’s Supper (chapter 11); and they needed instruction regarding the gifts of the Spirit (chapter 12), especially with regard to tongues and prophecy (chapter 14). According to Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, it is clear that the Corinthians were troubled.

When we begin reading Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians, the situation is changed. The church seems to be much more spiritually minded. Even the man who had committed fornication had repented! Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians reads, in some ways, so much better than his first letter.

In the fifth chapter of II Corinthians, there are several verses that have been a blessing to me through the years. I have leaned on them, learned from them, listened to them, and lectured on them.

The first verse of the chapter has repeatedly been a source of encouragement to me.

II Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Whether you like it or not, the current body in which you live is deteriorating. No matter how beautiful or handsome you believe yourself to be, as far as your body is concerned, you are dying. This becomes more apparent to us as we grow older. But, in the first verse of this chapter, what a blessed promise we have. We are promised, first, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (our bodies) dissolves (dies), we have another body – a building of God reserved for us in heaven! My favorite part of the verse is found in the words, “we have a building of God.” We who are saved are not trying to earn a new body; we have one! I have a new body right now. I am not wearing it at this time; and I will not wear it until I lay this robe of flesh down. But thanks be to God, I have a new, glorious body, like Christ’s glorious body!

Another verse in the fifth chapter of II Corinthians that has been a blessing to me is the seventh verse.

II Corinthians 5:7 – “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

Although the words are in parenthesis, the meaning is not. The meaning of this verse is of utmost importance. In order to have faith, obstacles must be overcome. There are at least three enemies that try to hinder the believer from having faith. The first is fear. When the disciples awoke Christ on that stormy night upon the sea, they were concerned that they might perish. In Matthew 8:26, Christ rebuked them, saying, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Fear hinders faith. A second enemy to faith is doubt. In Matthew 14, Christ came walking on the water toward His disciples. Peter launched out, and began to walk on the water toward Christ. But, seeing the waves, he began to sink. In Matthew 14:31, Christ asks Peter, “Wherefore didst thou doubt?” Doubting what God said is a hindrance to our faith. We cannot walk by faith as long we are doubting God’s word. A third enemy that hinders faith is feeling. I believe this is the enemy most responsible for many believers’ lack of assurance of salvation. There are many Christians who, as long as they feel saved, are sure of their salvation. But as soon as they fail; as soon as they do not feel as good as they did; they question their salvation. This is a tragedy because those who have no assurance of their salvation are not soul winners, mainly because they are not sure of their own salvation, let alone sure of how to secure someone else’s. I have often said, “I do not know I’m saved because I feel good; I feel good because I know I’m saved!” So many people say, “As soon as I feel good, I’ll know I’m saved.” It doesn’t work that way. Rather, it works the other way around. You first know you’re saved because of the written word of God; then you feel good! It’s amazing how good you’ll feel when you get the question of assurance settled! We do not walk by sight, as this verse shows us. What we see does not determine how we walk. We walk by faith in what God said, not by the feeling of our senses. We walk by faith, not by sight.

Another tremendous verse in this chapter is the tenth verse.

II Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

That every Christian will stand before God is a sobering thought. I spoke to an individual this week regarding this solemn judgment where Christians will be rewarded as they stand before God. “I do not believe,” I told him, “that the judgment seat of Christ will be a ‘walk in the park.’” Some seem to think that, because they are saved, they will breeze through the judgment seat of Christ. Not so! Our failures will be presented before all. All of our sins, thoughts, and deeds that displeased our Lord will be brought to the forefront. All the missed opportunities to pray, read the scriptures, and win souls will be presented to the hosts of heaven. All our selfish motives will be on display. There will be no place to hide. We will be examined thoroughly. We should work for God for that day in mind.

Another verse from this chapter that has influenced me greatly is the fourteenth verse.

II Corinthians 5:14 – “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”

“The love of Christ constraineth us!” Webster defines “constrain” this way – “to compel or force; to urge with irresistible power.” I am compelled by the love of Christ. This should be our motive for all our service. We should do absolutely nothing for Christ out of obligation. On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “If a man compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” The first mile was compelled; it was forced. I do not have a choice about the first mile. But Christ goes on and says, “When you finish the first mile, then, though it is not mandatory, go the second!” Because I am saved by God’s grace, I live a certain way. I do not strive to live in a godly manner for the purpose of trying to “stay saved.” I live the way I live because I love Christ. I do not listen to wicked, ungodly music. My reason for abstaining from such music is not because my church won’t let me. It is not because I’m “not allowed” to listen to such music that I refrain from it. I have no desire whatsoever to listen to music that does not honor my Lord. If you convinced me that listening to such music would not hurt me spiritually in any way, it would not change my behavior. I do not listen to such music because I do not wish to do so. I love the Lord, and songs that uplift Him shall be my only song. Why do you live the way you do? Is it because you feel like you must? If so, you need a revival of the love of Christ in your soul. Christ does not want you to be constrained with rules and regulations; He wants you to be constrained by His love. However you live, do so because you love Christ.

The last verse in the chapter has great depth, and has been a blessing to me.

II Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The depth of the gospel is contained herein. I cannot grasp it all, but what a great truth is found here. Christ was made sin for us that we might be made righteous in Him! I may fill several pages with the truths contained in this verse. Christ loved His Father, having always enjoyed unbroken fellowship with Him. But when Christ went to the cross, He became something that the Father hates; He became sin (II Corinthians 5:21), and He became a curse (Galatians 3:13). This is unfathomable, but it’s what happened to our Lord nonetheless. The remainder of the verse states, “…that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” That we sinful creatures could become the righteousness of God – as righteous as is God Himself – is just as unfathomable! The truths in this verse are simple in their presentation, yet profound in their depth. What amazing love Christ has for us!

The Value of the Word of God

In this world, it is neither scarce nor surprising to hear the attacks against the word of God. Those who are deemed intelligent mock its principles, deny its miracles, and scorn its prophecies. Yet, in spite of all the attacks, its principles are true, its miracles occurred as recorded, and every prophecy regarding the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ came to pass precisely as written. Though I desire for every reader to believe the Holy Scriptures, the scriptures do not need your belief in them to strengthen them. They are completely accurate, without anyone’s approval of them. The world mocks; yet the scripture stands.

Then, I come into the church. It is sad to say, but in many churches, the word of God takes a back seat. I have been to churches (some recently) where you will find someone who is always having a dream that “God gave him.” There are churches in which you’ll discover someone who is constantly seeing visions. God is always speaking to them in an audible voice. “God told me this,” they say. “God told me that,” they affirm.

Only an observation it may be, but here is what I have surveyed regarding many of those who are always seeing visions, dreaming dreams, and hearing voices: They are so spiritual that “God” is always speaking to them; yet, they do not know that salvation is by grace. They constantly see visions; but they cannot see that a person has the Holy Ghost living within them the instant they believe on Jesus Christ. They are always dreaming dreams, but quite frankly, they don’t know soup beans from apple butter regarding the word of God! Again, it should be noted that these observations are in reference to “many of those” who are always seeing visions, dreaming dreams and hearing voices.

Now, am I against a man having a dream that is from the Lord? No; for then I would be against the Joseph of the Old Testament, as well as the Joseph of the New. Am I against someone having a vision? In no wise. But if you are one of these people who often refer to “the last dream I had,” or “the last vision I had,” then I am talking to you.

Here is yet another observation regarding those who are always having dreams and seeing visions: they talk a lot. You may ask, “What do you mean?” In the Bible, when someone had real visions from the Lord, they didn’t talk about their visions. Whether the reader has seen a real vision from the Lord or not, I do not know. But I know for a fact that Paul the apostle had visions and revelations from the Lord, and look what he says about them:

II Corinthians 12:1 – “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.”

Paul, in his discourse to the Corinthians, states here that he will at this time talk about visions and revelations of the Lord. Then, he proceeds to speak concerning those visions and revelations:

II Corinthians 12:4 – “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

Paul goes on to tell about a man, perhaps himself, who was caught up into paradise. Then, Paul tells us something pertaining to what he saw – “…it is not lawful for a man to utter.” Paul said, “I’m not allowed to tell you what I saw.” No one reading this post will ever know what Paul saw in paradise – he didn’t blab it!

Yet, so many who claim to have visions today are very quick to reveal what they saw and heard. This makes me wonder about these vision-seeing individuals.

I do not know whether the reader has seen visions or heard voices from heaven or not, but I know for a fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, heard the voice of an angel, because the Bible states it to be so. Yet, when the angel spoke to her, the Bible says in Luke 2:19 that “Mary pondered these things in her heart.” She neither told nor bragged about everything she heard from the angel. Yet, when someone has visions and dreams today, they quickly let the world know what they saw and heard! It makes me wonder!

A Message for Vision-Seeing Individuals and Dreamers

As for those who claim to have seen visions or had dreams from the Lord, I am not writing this post to convince you otherwise. But, each individual who constantly sees visions and has dreams from the Lord needs to read what I am writing.

Your visions and dreams are not very spiritual. There is no indication whatsoever that Pilate’s wife was a follower of Christ, yet she informs her husband in Matthew 27:19, “I have suffered many things in a dream because of [Christ].” The wise men who came to see the Christ child were warned of God in a dream in Matthew 2:12; yet there is nothing said as to whether or not they believed that Christ was anything more than “the king of the Jews.” The fact is this: you do not have to be spiritual at all to have visions or dreams. Actually, it is possible for a devil to be disguised as an angel of light, and approach someone in a vision.

II Corinthians 11:13, 14 – “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

Paul even warned us, that if an angel from HEAVEN came to us, and told us something different than what the Bible teaches, we are to let that angel be accursed; or let that angel go to hell!

Galatians 1:8, 9 – “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

So, I do not care much about your dreams and visions. Every dream you’ve dreamed and every vision you’ve seen takes a back seat to the word of God! I have made the following statement in this blog before, but I make it again. If an angel came to me and said, “Bob, I came from heaven to give you two choices. You can either have dreams and visions every day, or you can learn something every day from the Bible, the word of God. It’s your choice.” My choice would be easy to make. I would rather learn more and more of God’s word than have dreams and visions. I would rather be skillful with the Bible and know to use it to convince people to be saved than to boast of dreams and visions!

Allow me to examine one more passage. Peter tells in II Peter of his experience on the mount of transfiguration. Peter was on the mountain with Christ when the Lord’s face shone brightly. He saw Moses and Elijah on that mountain! What a glorious experience this must have been:

II Peter 1:17, 18 – “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”

In these verses, Peter tells of his great experience upon the mountain of transfiguration. Now, in the next verse, Peter says that you and I have something more sure than even the vision he had!

II Peter 1:19-21 – “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

“We have a more sure word of prophecy!” A more sure word? What could be surer than a vision? He tells us what is more sure than a vision – the prophecy of the scripture! God’s written word – the Bible – is far surer than any dream or vision.

The Jew: A Modern Marvel

One of the most compelling arguments for the existence of God is the existence of the Jew. Nations larger than Israel are now extinct. Tribes that were at one time greater in number than the nation of Israel are currently either extinct or endangered. At present, Russia contains more than twenty tribes of indigenous peoples that are endangered. There are more than 1,800 tribes in Brazil that are currently extinct. Where are the descendents of the Biblical “Nineveh”? They are non-existent. Where is the nation of the Philistines? There is no such nation. Where are the kingdoms of Tyre and Sidon? They are gone. Where is the Grecian empire? It is all but forgotten. What about the Roman empire? The Roman Catholic church is all that remains of it.

These nations, tribes, and people groups were far bigger than the nation of Israel. Yet, against all odds, the Jews cannot be destroyed. Geographically, they are small and completely surrounded by their enemies. Ethnically, they are a small minority. Politically, they are globally insignificant. Demographically, they scarcely register as even a statistic. Yet no one can deny that they have left an impression upon the world about which no other group can boast. Repeatedly throughout history, world leaders have vowed to destroy the Jews. Those leaders are dead. The Jew remains.

The First Marvel – Jewish Identity

The Jews were scattered from the land of Israel in Old Testament times as they were carried off into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. They remained in Babylon for seventy years. After that time, Cyrus, king of Persia, allowed the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and the wall. Although many Jews returned to their homeland, many did not. Many Jews remained scattered throughout the known world during Alexander's empire, and even to New Testament times. In the inter-testamental period, the Grecian empire was in full force. Jews were scattered, many of them in Chaldea, some in Greece, others in Syria. Though the Greeks influenced the Jews greatly, the Jews remained faithful to the tenets of Judaism. Jews that were influenced greatly by the Greeks became known as “Hellenistic Jews.” Many of these Jews spoke Greek rather than Hebrew. Because Solomon's temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the Jewish synagogue was born. Throughout the known world, the Jew, separated from the temple of his homeland, worshiped in the synagogue in whatever region he may have been. Even in a polytheistic Grecian world, the Jews remained true to their monotheistic values.

The Second Marvel – Jewish Perseverance

The Jews were further scattered in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Herod's temple and the city of Jerusalem. The Jews were a people without a home. For over two millennia, the Jews were driven from their land. Although they were once a nation with definite borders, ruled by their own kings, protected by their own military, spoke a common Hebrew language, unified under a monotheistic system of worship, and participated in their own unique customs and culture, the Jews have been homeless. They have dwelt in nations that would receive them – some as friends, others as enemies. Many nations viewed the Jew as the problem in their failing economy. Because of this, Jews have throughout the centuries been the object of persecution. Haman tried to commit genocide against the Jews during the time of the Medo-Persian empire. Adolf Hitler blamed the Jews (primarily, though not exclusively) on the economic woes that faced Germany after the first world war. It seemed that no matter how bad the economy was in Germany, German Jews prospered. Germans cannot prosper, Hitler argued, while the Jews are prospering. With this reasoning as the basis, many Jews throughout Europe faced extermination during World War II. In more recent times, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad infamously stated that Israel should be wiped off the map. Of course, Haman did not exterminate the Jews; Hitler could not rid the world of Jewish presence; and Ahmadinejad was incapable of destroying the nation of Israel. No matter what attack is launched against the Jews, no plan to extinguish their influence from the face of the earth has ever been, or will ever be, successful.

The Third Marvel – Jewish Wealth

In his best-selling book Thou Shall Prosper, Rabbi Daniel Lapin demonstrates that the Jews are disproportionately wealthy. The Jews make up less than 2% of the US population, less than 1% of the world's population, but they make up 15-25% of Forbes 400 list of billionaires in any given year. The Jews, in spite of all that has come against them, prosper! This is an undeniable fact. Absolutely no one can deny that the Jews prosper to a degree that is against all odds. There are many indicators that point to the fact that the Jew should not even be in existence, let alone prosper! It is entertaining for Christians to watch journalists present their best articles attempting to explain the immense wealth of the Jewish people. Once in a while, I will read a news article about the latest study that presents some new insight on why the Jews are incredibly wealthy. It is hilarious to read some of their explanations.

Of course we Christians know positively why the Jews are incredibly prosperous. The God of the Bible has blessed them! When Hitler tried to destroy the Jews, it was not a battle between Hitler and the Jews; it was a battle between Hitler and God! And God won! You will have to exterminate God before you can exterminate the Jews. The atheist thinks he has already destroyed God, but the incredible wealth of the Jew says otherwise. The Jew is blessed because, in Genesis 12, God declared that they would be blessed. God has stacked the odds against the Jews and then blessed them against those odds. Behind the prosperous nation of Israel stands the God who prospered them. You either see that truth, or you refuse to see it. Either way, it is there.

Money and the Christian

Having recently written about goal-setting in the life of a Christian, I expressed how sad it is to watch a Christian, especially a young Christian, set his first and foremost goals that center around his net worth. In my last post, I discussed the impossibility of a wealthy person coming to salvation in Christ. Thankfully, some of them do come to Christ, but only because God is a miracle worker.

In this post, however, our attention is not upon the lost man who is wealthy, but rather the Christian who sets his eyes on the glamour and the glitter of this present world, desiring to become wealthy.

There is No Sin in a Christian Becoming Wealthy

I am an avid listener of Dave Ramsey, and I recommend him to Christians who desire to serve God with all of their being, including their money. Dave Ramsey spends a good deal of time emphasizing the fact that it is noble and good to make money. I agree. Dave uses the many scriptures in the Old and New Testaments that speak positively concerning making money. Rabbi Daniel Lapin, in his book Business Secrets from the Bible, stresses the same point – that it is a noble undertaking to make money. He, being a Jewish rabbi, uses the Old Testament scriptures exclusively to bring about this point. I agree with the assessment that making money is a noble and just cause.

Some indicate that making money, or at least making a substantial amount of it, is a sinful practice. This argument is counterproductive. To say it is acceptable to be lower or middle class, but it is sinful to be wealthy is absurd. Who employs lower and middle class people? The wealthy. When the wealthy become unsuccessful in their business endeavors, the lower and middle class people lose their jobs. Furthermore, do you really wish to participate in an economy where the only business owners, managers, and salespeople are those with no Christian values? Do you really want Christians to vacate those positions, leaving them open only to those who do not know Christ and have no Christian virtues whatsoever? In my view, this does not seem like a logical argument for a Christian to make.

New Testament Warnings against the Rich

While it is certain that the Bible speaks in a positive manner concerning wealth, an honest student of the Bible will readily admit that the same Bible gives many warnings to those who either are presently wealthy, or wish to become wealthy. Dave Ramsey, though I love his radio show and listen often, seldom (if ever) quotes a Bible verse that warns against being rich. Although there are many such verses in both testaments, I will quote and discuss only one. Let us look at the first part of I Timothy 6:9 –

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare…

Note that this verse is not speaking to rich people. Here, Paul is addressing “they that will be rich.” The word “will” in this verse indicates those who are exercising their will to become rich – they desire to be rich. They have goals of becoming wealthy. When a Christian sets goals that involve increasing their net worth – they will absolutely, positively, and certainly be tempted. It is not a matter of if temptation comes; it is a matter of when temptation comes.

A Christian does not live for money; A Christian lives for God. When a Christian begins to make it a goal to earn more money, this person will be tempted to let their walk with God go by the wayside. Sadly, I have seen it repeatedly in my twenty-plus years in ministry. I can almost write it in a mathematical formula. The more money a person takes in, the more their fire for God is snuffed out. There are exceptions, but they are incredibly few and far between.

As a Christian, your heart should beat for God and His kingdom. As a Christian, impacting people’s lives for the gospel should be your motive for placing your feet on the floor each morning. As a Christian, your children’s salvation and spirituality should be far more important than your goal of quadrupling your income by the end of this year. Unfortunately, many Christians suffer spiritually as they excel financially. You, fellow Christian, should guard against this with everything within you.

Three Temptations Wealthy Christians Face

The reason that it is nearly impossible for a Christian to prosper financially and spiritually simultaneously is because, as we saw in I Timothy 6:9, those who set out to become wealthy always fall into temptation. If you are a Christian who is in a position to make a substantial amount of money, I can think of three immense temptations that you are sure to face. These temptations are tests. If you fail them, your heart is not right with God. Sadly, most Christians fail them. If you are going to make money and be spiritual, you must pass these tests 100% of the time. They are not optional. They are not easy. They measure clearly your spiritual condition. You will either pass these tests or suffer spiritually.

The First Test – The Test of Priority

Your priorities speak of those things in your life that are most important to you. It is an incredible temptation for a Christian who makes a good deal of money to put business before God and family. While making money is necessary to provide for your family and to be able to give to the work of God, it should never occupy first place in your life. If I were to ask you who make money whether money comes first or whether God comes first, of course you will tell me that God is first, because you know that is the right answer. But does God really come first? How many worship services do you miss because the worship service interferes with making money? You spend hours at a time making money, but when is the last time you spent hours of quality time with your family? Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, identified her priorities as “God first, family second, business third.” I don’t know anything about the extent of her spirituality, but if she lived out her priorities in this order, she had her priorities straight.

Many Christians fail this test of priority for one simple reason. Sometimes, putting God before money will cost you. I wish I could say that if you always put God first, you will always gain financially. But that notion is simply not the truth. Sometimes it will cost you – in terms of dollars and cents – to put God first. You don’t mind paying money if you think it will yield more money later. Do you mind paying money to put God and family ahead of your bottom line? If you are right with God, you will take a pay cut to keep God and family ahead of your net worth.

I once knew a Christian who owned two businesses. He sold one of them, accounting for a decrease in his net worth in the long term. Why did he do it? To give more time to God and family. It cost him money to make such a move, but he did not lose. He won. He passed the test of priority.

The Second Test – The Test of Integrity

You don’t have to be in business long before you realize that it is easier to make money and keep money if you refrain from being completely honest. Dear Christian friend, it is always a sin to be dishonest to make or keep money. If you are right with God, you are honest in all – 100% - of your dealings with your fellow man. It is certainly a temptation for a Christian business person to slightly bend the truth to collect a dollar. You may be just a little dishonest. No one may ever find out. But God knows, and you are not right in His sight if you bend the truth just ever so slightly for financial gain. Being right with God in this area means that you are honest with your clients, with your vendors, with your employees, with the insurance companies with which you deal, and with the IRS. Making money and not claiming it on your tax return because “they paid in cash” is not morally right. Lying on an insurance claim to obtain more money is ungodly. In business, the Christian will have plenty of opportunities to bend the truth for the sake of making a buck.

In order for you to be a man or woman of integrity, you must be honest 100% of the time. Anybody can be honest only when it benefits them financially. If you are honest 75% of the time because in those times it benefits you to be honest, you are just like the atheist in business – he does the same thing. But Christians – Christians who are right with God – are honest in absolutely every transaction. The catch is this – sometimes being honest will cost you. Which would you rather have – an extra dollar gained by stretching the truth just slightly, or your integrity? Would you rather be able to brag because you pulled the wool over someone’s eyes in a business deal, or would you rather be able to lie down at night and look up to your Creator and say that you did the right thing even though it cost you? Your honest answer will show whether or not you pass this test. If you are not honest 100% of the time, you have failed. Sadly, many Christians when making money fail this test.

The Third Test – The Test of Contentment

I hate to hear a motivational speech given by a person in business. They tell different stories, outline their points differently, and speak with different styles, but they all say the same thing – “Be a millionaire;” “Get more;” “Don’t settle with where you are;” “Set goals and do whatever you have to do to accomplish them;” “Exert blood, sweat, and tears to strike it rich.” What is wrong with the connotation of many of these themes? They go against the entire spirit of the New Testament. While business leaders admonish you to “go higher” and “get rich,” how does that message contrast with the message of the New Testament? Look at Hebrews 13:5 –

Be content with such things as ye have.

As a Christian sets out in business to make money, it is a tremendous temptation to want more. Money is like sugar. Most people cannot eat just one Oreo cookie. When you taste one, you want another. When your hands handle a little money, you want more.

I cannot put in all the disclaimers here. I am not out of touch with business principles. I understand that, from a business standpoint, if a business doesn’t continue to grow, it starts to die. I understand that business owners must constantly calculate how to increase revenue, decrease expenses, and where to invest money to yield the most profitable gains possible. I may come across like I do not understand these things, but I do understand them. In a sense, business owners must never be content. They must always seek to improve.

It is the same way with our spiritual lives. We should always seek ways to improve our devotional time with the Lord. We should always try to improve our time of worship, our level of giving, and the effectiveness of our witness to the world. In these ways Christians should never be content. Spiritually, we should always be growing.

However, Christians should at the same time be content with whatever monetary possessions we have. Have you ever thought of what made Satan fall from heaven? In one word, Satan fell from heaven because of discontentment. God gave Satan a great position, along with great wealth. Satan, however, was not satisfied. He said, “I will ascend;” “I will go higher;” “I will be like God.” Satan’s love for his wealth caused his fall. This is the meaning of I Timothy 6:10, which states that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” It was Satan’s love for his wealth and his discontentment that caused his fall, bringing about the evil in the world as we know it.

Jesus Christ, on the other hand, lived in heaven, being equal with God. But He was willing to forsake the splendor of heaven and come to earth to give his life as a sacrifice for your sins and mine. He forsook heaven to become a man. He was not only content with what He had; He was willing to take a demotion. He took an incredible step down to do what the Father wanted Him to do.

Business owners inevitably deal with other business owners. In doing so, you are constantly surrounded by people whose goals in life include more wealth, more money, more cars, more real estate, more boats, more toys, more vacations – more, more, more. It will be tempting for these goals to become your own. Sadly, many Christians fail the test of contentment.

A Christian who makes a good deal of money should, in a time of devotion, take their spouse’s hand, and ask themselves some serious questions, such as, “If we never make more money than we make right now, are we truly content?” Or, “If God calls us to sell everything and give the profit to a missionary, are we willing to do so?” The honest answer to such questions will speak volumes of your spiritual condition.

Are you more like Satan, demanding to “go higher” and “get more,” or are you more like Christ, willing to take a demotion? Do you desire more of the world, or more of Christ?

Can a Rich Person Go to Heaven?

“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” -Luke 18:25

These strong words were uttered by none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This statement immediately follows the account of a man whom we know as the “rich young ruler.” The ruler, perhaps a religious ruler, came to Jesus to inquire what it was he must do to inherit eternal life. Christ answered that he need only keep the commandments. To this, the ruler replied that he had kept all the commandments from his boyhood until the present. Christ then instructed him to sell everything he had and give to the poor. Upon this, his face expressed his sadness as he departed with his head bent as low as his spirit.

Upon the ruler's departure, Christ then turned to his disciples and remarked how hard it is for the wealthy to find a place in heaven. In our text of study, we see that Christ taught that it is not only hard for a rich man to be saved, it is actually impossible. Christ plainly stated that you will witness a camel entering through a needle's eye before you will witness a rich man entering heaven. Make no mistake about it – Christ was referring to a sewing needle. Some have tried to downplay the Lord's words by stating that the “Needle's Eye” was a gate in Jerusalem that was so small that camels found great difficulty when passing through it. There was a gate called the “Needle's Eye,” but it was not built until the middle ages and was non-existent in the time of Christ.

Some of you reading this post are stunned that the Lord's words are so strong. You are not alone; the disciples found themselves stunned by these words as well. When told of the impossibility of the rich finding salvation, the disciples replied, “Who then can be saved?” Note the Lord's answer:

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” -Luke 18:27

It is impossible for a rich man to be saved – but our God works the impossible. If you meet a wealthy Christian, then do not say you have never seen a miracle. Why is it described as impossible for a rich person to be saved? The simple answer is that the wealthy person needs nothing, so they think. The first step to finding salvation is the admission of your need for it. Until you see a need for salvation, you will remain lost. Consequently, the wealthy person sees no need for anything, including and especially Jesus Christ. Everything that Christ offers – the wealthy person feels that they can buy it. Because of this, it takes a divine miracle for God to save one who is rich.

In my next post, I will look at the Christian who desires to become wealthy. Are there wealthy Christians? Yes. Are there wealthy Christians who are living an abundant Christian life, making a tremendous impact for the kingdom of God? They are very few and far between. Why is this? We shall see in the immediate upcoming post.

Shame and the Gospel

Two words, seemingly unrelated, are “shame” and “gospel.” Shame is defined by Noah Webster as “Reproach; ignominy; derision; contempt; dishonor; disgrace.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is defined by Paul the apostle in I Corinthians 15 as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – the message that brings salvation to a dying soul. The despicable, stomach-turning characteristic of shame should never be associated with a subject as glorious as the gospel of Jesus Christ. In spite of this, many have unapologetically mixed the precious elements of the gospel of Christ with their own shameful ideals. Allow me to expound upon this.

Some Are Ashamed OF the Gospel

Romans 1:16 – “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation; unto the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

By declaring that he was not ashamed of the gospel himself, Paul is also teaching us that it is possible for a person to be “ashamed of the gospel.” And it is clearly seen all around us that many professing Christians are ashamed of the gospel. The lack of soul-winning among Christians is evidence enough that professing Christians are ashamed of the gospel. The very souls who have been set free by the Bible message of salvation are ashamed to declare the very gospel that has made them free! One would think that deliverance from binding sins would in itself give courage and strength to the Christian to be a soul-winner. But, as I find often, many who have been delivered, are ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why are people who have set free by the gospel ashamed of the gospel? Some are ashamed of the gospel because its message is unpopular. In our society of tolerance, Jesus’ words are not in sync with such ideals. Words such as “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me” rub the world the wrong way. Every Christian reader needs to understand this – the sick, perverted world in which we live will never accept your message. Those who are publicly against Christ and in alignment with this world absolutely HATE the gospel. Yes, they preach tolerance, and they themselves are the most hostile, intolerant people toward Christianity. They preach freedom of speech for perverts, cross-dressers, and those who are “transgender;” but they turn around and attempt to take away such freedoms from Christians. They want Christ removed from the public square; they want religion to stay within the four walls of the church; they want preaching that is against sin to be defined as a hate crime. Liberalism is, by definition, hypocrisy.

But Christians should not be surprised. Our Lord told us it would be this way, only promising that it would get worse! Look what He said:

John 15:18-20 – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”

John 16:2, 3 – “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

Jesus told us it would be this way! When you take your stand for Jesus, you will be hated by this world! You will be an outcast! You will be falsely accused, cast into prison for the sake of the gospel, and even killed for the gospel of Christ. But remember this – Christ was rejected for you! Christ stood alone for you and me. He died alone and forsaken of the Father on Golgotha’s rugged brow. Whatever the cost to follow Him will surely be worth it. While Christ suffered, separated from the Father, He promised us that we would never suffer alone, for He promised, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you!” So, dear Christian, stand for Jesus! Say with Paul the apostle, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!” He was not ashamed to suffer for us; may we never be ashamed to suffer for Him.

Mark 8:38 – “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Luke 9:26 – “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.”

Some Are a Shame TO the Gospel

Volumes could be written concerning the truth that some live in a way as to shame the name of Jesus Christ. His name is holy, righteous, and pure, and if you are going to declare it, you should live a lifestyle that backs up your words. Look at this:

II Timothy 2:19 – “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Plainly, the apostle states that if you name the name of Jesus Christ, then depart from iniquity! When a Christian sins openly before this world, he becomes a shame to the gospel with which he associates himself.

While it is true that the world will hate us, as we have already seen; while it is true that we will no doubt be falsely accused; DO NOT give the world a reason to accuse you! Professing Christians and ministers have brought much shame to the cause of Christ. I am told of ministers who contract debt and do not pay! I am told of Christians who borrow money and do not pay it back. I am told of Christians who, on the job, do not work their fair share. I know of professing Christians who will have their electricity to be shut off before they’ll get up off the couch and work for the money to pay the electric bill! All of these things bring shame to the name of Jesus Christ! I do not wish to be ashamed OF the gospel, but neither do I wish to be a shame TO the gospel!

Some Preach a ShameFUL Gospel

How glorious is the gospel of Jesus Christ! Dr. M.R. DeHaan said, “There are only two religions in the world – the DO religion and the DONE religion.” Man’s religion, or the DO religion, says that if you are to be saved, you must “do this,” “do that,” “perform sacraments,” “be baptized,” “keep laws,” “keep commandments,” “dress this way,” “dress that way,” and on, and on, and on. While I believe in living right (so that I am not a shame TO the gospel), “doing things” does not comprise salvation. “Doing things” to be saved is man’s false religion.

God’s religion, however, is the DONE religion. The final cry of our Saviour from the cross was “It is finished!” There is nothing left to perform for our salvation. There is nothing left for you and me to do. We must simply place all of our faith in what Christ has already completely done on Calvary’s hill. The songwriter put it this way:

It is finished; what a gospel!
Nothing has been left to do,
But to take with grateful gladness
What the Saviour did for you.

It is finished; Hallelujah! It is finished; Hallelujah!
Christ the work has fully done; Hallelujah!
All who will may have their pardon
Through the blood of God’s own Son.*

To preach anything less than salvation by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ is to preach a shameful gospel. There is a problem with preaching that salvation either attained or maintained by keeping laws and commandments. The problem is not that those who preach in such a way are too strict; the problem is rather that they are not strict enough! The act of keeping laws and commandments is not “going overboard;” it is actually “not going far enough!” Keeping laws and commandments, being baptized, performing sacraments, and all other efforts of mankind is not too much for salvation; it is not enough for salvation. Notice:

Matthew 5:20 – “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Christ’s day who preached strict adherence to rules and regulations, had a problem. It was not that their rules went too far; it was that their rules DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH! So many today have read the above verse and have preached that we need to be stricter than the Pharisees if we are going to be saved. But that is not what Jesus preached. The answer is not more rules, more strictness, more sacraments, and more works of man! These things were not sufficient for salvation to start with, and they’ll never be sufficient for salvation, no matter how much of them you have! The attempt to keep laws, commandments, baptisms, and sacraments is man’s DO religion. The righteousness that far exceeds the law-keeping of the Pharisees is the righteousness of Christ. Christ is all my righteousness. His work is absolutely complete, and brings full salvation with no work of man added to it whatsoever!

To preach any other salvation, one is preaching a shameful gospel. May every Christian declare with boldness the true gospel of Jesus Christ without shame, living a lifestyle that supports such a message, and testifying only the work of Jesus Christ for the salvation of this lost and dying world.

*M. Fraser