Overcoming

Overcoming

Dear Follower of Jesus:

Are there things in your life you need to overcome for God’s glory? The honest answer for all Christians is yes.

Below is a Biblical exhortation for Godly living. This is a call to loving obedience to God, a reminder of our righteous position in Christ, a clear statement of man’s sinful nature, a rallying cry to overcome temptation and experience victory over sin, a mandate to stand in God’s strength (not our own), a teaching on how a Christian should think and live, a celebration of salvation and sanctification, and a prayer for God’s blessings and work in our lives in and through Christ Jesus.  Enjoy, embrace and exercise these eternal truths in every part of your life.


Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. The works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Be imitators of God as dear children. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. I pray that you are overcoming the temptations and sin in your life – all for God’s glory.

Your Brother in Christ

Note on the ‘Biblical exhortation for Godly living’ (paragraphs in italics above):

Every word in the exhortation above has been taken directly from God’s Word (New King James Version – see scripture references below). However, I want to point out that piecing together scripture that has been ‘plucked’ out of the Bible and used without the context of verse, chapter and book can be a tricky and a quite dangerous practice. The context of all scripture is vital in understanding the truth God intended it to impart to us. Using small portions of scripture to communicate a message can lead to overemphasizing certain points, neglecting others, or even twisting scripture’s true and eternal meaning.

I have endeavored to include all the scripture in the exhortation above in a manner that honors the overall context of living a God-honoring life through salvation in Christ and by overcoming temptation and sin through the truth of His Word, the power and presence of His Spirit, and the victory over sin and death won by Christ at Calvary.

Scripture References

Paragraph 1

• Ephesians 4:1, Mark 12:30, 1 John 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 10:14, John 3:17

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• Isaiah 64:6, Romans 7:19, Galatians 5:19-21, Matthew 15:19, Jeremiah 17:9

Paragraph 3

• Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:22-23,      Galatians 5:16, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:14-15, 1 John 4:4

Paragraph 4

• Ephesians 5:1, Ephesians 6:10, Colossians 1:10-11, Romans 12:2, Philippians 2:13

Paragraph 5

• Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:9-12

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• Romans 5:1-5, Romans 12:21

Paragraph 7

• Hebrews 13:20-21 

Are You Waiting on God?

Are You Waiting on God?

Are you waiting on God? Have you asked Him for:

• Sight for the blind
• Healing for the sick
• Food for the hungry
• Faith for the doubter
• Salvation for the lost
• Freedom for the slave
• Peace for those at war
• Comfort for the hurting
• Clarity for the confused
• Wisdom for the reckless
• Homes for the homeless
• Sobriety for the addicted
• Hope for the discouraged
• Forgiveness for the guilty
• Work for the unemployed
• Direction for the misguided
• Protection for those in danger
• Or anything else only He can do?

What does it mean to wait on God? In summary, it means to trust Him.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

But let’s dig deeper. To wait on God is to:

• Confidently move forward with faith, peace and endurance.
• Completely abandon arrogance, vengeance and selfishness.
• Continually trust in His righteous nature, sovereign rule and divine care.

As we wait on God, we are to focus on Him and surrender our cares and worries to Him.

• Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Here are a few examples from the Bible that show us both successes and failures from people who were waiting on God.

Abraham and Sarah

While waiting for the promised son, they executed their own plan.

• Genesis 16:1-2 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.
• Even those with great faith can make bad decisions when they lose sight of God’s promises.
• We must keep our eyes on Him and trust His timing.

Joseph

While waiting to get out of prison, he used the gifts God had given him.

• Genesis 40:9-13 Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, 10 and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” 12 And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. 13 Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler.
• Even in the most difficult times, God is working to fulfill His purposes.
• We must bring Him glory by continuing to use the gifts He has blessed us with.

Peter

While waiting for Christ to deliver Israel, he could be impulsive in his speech.

• Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
• Even when we don’t understand what God is doing, His ways and plans are perfect.
• We must submit our attitudes and words to Him and trust that all He does is good and right.

Paul

While waiting to die for his faith, he looked forward to the glories of being with Christ in Heaven.

• 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
• Even as we see the end of our lives approaching, the realities of His eternal promises come more clearly into view.
• We must stay focused on the present as we confidently look forward with faith, peace and endurance.

As always, our ultimate example of how to live a God-honoring life is Jesus.

Jesus

While waiting for His humiliation and death:

He completed the work He was given.

• John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
• Even though Satan and the religious leaders did all they could to stop Him, Jesus faithfully moved forward in obedience.
• We must obey Father God in all things at all times if we are going to complete the work He has given us.

He submitted to the Father.

• Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
• Even as His betrayal, arrest, torture and death approached, Jesus surrendered everything to the will of His Father.
• We must see beyond our present circumstances and what may appear to be failure in our lives and surrender to the timing, ways and outcomes of His perfect plan.

He loved those who would kill Him.

• Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
• Even as He was dying on a Roman cross, He lovingly prayed for those who put Him there.
• We must be willing to sacrifice everything to demonstrate genuine Godly love for others.

In all things we should glorify Father God. Whatever we are waiting on Him for (no matter how seemingly insignificant or obviously all consuming), we must continue to focus on, surrender to, and trust in Him.

As you wait on God, genuinely, desperately, passionately, earnestly, confidently and faithfully pray that He will help you to:

• Love Him
• Trust Him
• Seek Him
• Obey Him
• Praise Him
• Thank Him
• Follow Him
• Appeal to Him
• Confess to Him
• Avoid offending Him
• Humble yourself before Him
• Use the gifts that come from Him
• Complete any work ordained by Him
• And seize every opportunity to honor Him.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to wait on You in ways that honor You. Please help us to see beyond our present circumstances to the future realities that you have promised and secured. Your way is always the best way. Your timing is always just right. Your love never fails. Your truth sets us free. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen

How Awesome to See

How Awesome to See

Stepping onto the scale I check my weight. Sitting on the beach I observe the rising and falling of the tide. Staring up at the night sky I observe the moon and stars as they journey on their set paths through time and space. Strolling through the woods I witness a nut falling from a tree. Gravity is real. 

Although Sir Isaac Newton made many extraordinary contributions to mathematics and science, perhaps he is best known for his development of theories explaining gravitational forces. In a story retold many times, an apple falling from a tree is most likely what inspired Newton’s contemplations and resulting theories explaining gravity. 

To understand and accurately explain the unseen realities that result in observable phenomenon takes tremendous insight. Great minds in mathematics and science can help us to understand the laws of nature. 

I have never seen gravity. But I constantly see it working. Gravity is real.

Not surprisingly, the sovereign Lord of the universe, who established the laws of nature, attests to the reality of them in His Holy Word. In Isaiah 34:4, God is using His prophet Isaiah to foretell the pouring out of God’s wrath on earth prior to the future reconciliation of all things. At the end of this verse, God is stating that the fulfillment of this prophecy is as certain as gravity – like fruit falling from a tree (see also Revelation chapter 6, specifically vs 13). 

• Isaiah 34:4 All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree.

I have never seen God. But I constantly see Him working. God is real!

To accept the truth about the unseen reality of the one and only loving and sovereign God that created the universe takes great faith. The Word of God and His Holy Spirit enable us to understand His laws and His nature. 

Jesus (God in the flesh) knew that it would be difficult for ‘those who have not seen’ Him to believe in Him.

• John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And many who did see Him still didn’t believe in who He was.

• John 6:35-36 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.

In the book of Hebrews, we find a concise definition of faith:

• Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

And Paul provides valuable insights about the nature and importance of our faith:

• Romans 8:24-25 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
• 2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

When Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the world, He forced our hands. If we are willing to see Him, He has made a way for us to know Him. If we are only willing to see what is before our fleshly eyes, we will remain blind to truth about Him.

• John 9:39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

How awesome to see:

God’s Hand Move

His abundant protection, provision and patience have been an ever-present reality in my life – even during the dark days before I knew Him.

• Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.

God’s Character Displayed

His perfect love is revealed in all He does and allows – even when we don’t understand the why or the how.

• Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

God’s Spirit Fill

His miraculous power is manifested through His Spirit that lives in His children – even though, in and of ourselves, we are weak and prone to sin.

• Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God’s Word Go Forth

His absolute truth is marching on; saving souls and changing lives – even as the world grows increasingly intolerant and hostile toward Him, His message, and His children.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God’s Purposes Revealed 

His motives are pure, His intentions are just, and His compassions never fail – even as we struggle to comprehend His justice and how all things work together for our good.

• Isaiah 14:24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:

God’s Plans Succeed

His ending to the story of creation, life, death, and eternal judgement is certain – even if many reject Him and His sovereign rule over all creation.

• Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

God’s Will Be Done

His desire is for all to know and love Him – even while many deny, reject, and hate Him.

• 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God’s Creation Reconciled

His creation will be restored, and His children will be perfected – even though we don’t deserve it, He has graciously made a way for us to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

• 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Can you accept the reality of something you can’t see?

Do you feel God drawing you?

Now is the time to surrender to the love of God.

Now is the time to admit your need for Him.

God is real!

How Awesome to See

The Truth About Jesus!

Prayer

Thank You Lord for revealing Yourself in so many ways. Please open the eyes of the blind so that they may see You and know You. I pray that You will bring rest to the weary, peace to the troubled, love to the hurting, and salvation to the lost. May Your love and truth be the gravity that draws those who need you. I pray these things in the name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Aiming to Please

Aiming to Please

It is a good thing when people enjoy coming to church. Joining together for fellowship, encouragement, support, worship, learning, and giving should be a tremendous blessing in the life of a believer. We rejoice in our reconciled relationship with God through Christ Jesus!

But our time in the church and our lives as followers of Christ must go beyond weekly handshakes, hugs and high-fives. The Word of God not only gives us hope and truth, it also challenges the depths of who we really are, our thoughts, and our motives. The Holy Spirit of God not only empowers and teaches those He indwells, He also convicts (convinces/admonishes) the people in the world about sin, righteousness and judgment.

• Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
• Romans 5:11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
• Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• John 16:8-11 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Every living person needs a healthy diet of God’s Word. In addition to the truths that taste great and go down easy, we also need those truths that challenge our palates, take a great dealing of chewing, and may still be hard to digest. We need the entire counsel of absolute truth found in the Bible. Why is this so important? Because every living person must deal with their depraved human nature and the consequences this sin nature produces in their lives.

• Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
• Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Those Who Have Surrendered to Christ as Savior and Lord

Those who have surrendered their entire lives to Christ have been delivered from slavery to sin. With the Holy Spirit of God living in them, they have the power to overcome sin. Through faith in Christ, they have been fully reconciled to God. But, because of their sinful nature, all believers have an ongoing battle raging within – the Spirit verses the flesh. And this side of heaven, all believers will fall short of a sinless life.

If the teachings of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit are ignored or rejected by a Christian, the absolute truth about the ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit in a believer (especially when combined with the clear Biblical teaching that Christians must continually seek personal righteousness in daily living through ongoing cleansing from sin) can be frustrating, boring, or even viewed as inapplicable to those who follow Christ.

• Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
• 1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
• Romans 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice
• Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Those Who Have Rejected Christ as Savior and Lord

Those who don’t follow Jesus are defenseless against the enticements and lies that cause people to sin against God. Apart from God, the truth of His Word, and the power of His Spirit, no honorable intentions or desire to ‘live a good life’ can reconcile a person to God or enable them to live a life pleasing to God. As difficult as it may be to understand/accept, those who haven’t been reconciled to God are living in direct opposition to Him; they have rejected His offer of reconciliation through faith in Jesus and will therefore face God’s wrath.

Without the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit teaching an unbeliever, the absolute truth about the requirement for salvation through faith in Christ for eternal life in Heaven (especially when combined with the clear Biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is the One and Only Way to peace with God) can be ridiculous, offensive, or even inflammatory to those who don’t follow Christ.

• John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
• Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
• 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Aiming to Please

Because the truths of God’s Word may be frustrating, ridiculous, offensive, boring, inflammatory, viewed as inapplicable, etc., to those hearing it, sometimes a person may only share the happy/feel good aspects of Christianity, and avoid discussing certain teachings of the Christian faith. Another approach might be to appeal to the emotions and/or intellect instead of just letting the truth of the Word and the power of the Spirit work in a person’s heart and mind. This might occur due to:

• Immaturity – One who has a lack of knowledge, wisdom or experience.
• Insecurity – One who is afraid of rejection, retaliation or mistakes.
• Imitation – One who is pretending to be something they aren’t.

The Word of God is meant to inform, liberate and transform the human race. But, whether done intentionally or not, when the truth of the Bible is diluted, distorted, diminished, denied or disregarded, hearts and minds remain in bondage to the deceptions, inaccuracies, lusts, and imaginations of Satan, the world and the flesh.

If for any reason a person sharing God’s Word is aiming to please the hearer, they will likely end up avoiding topics that may cause offence to the hearer, excluding important truths that need to be shared, and/or apologizing for/misrepresenting God’s requirements and standards. Telling someone what you think they want to hear, or hope that they are willing to accept, will likely result in shallow discussions that won’t address the hearer’s need for absolute truth. Sometimes, a half-truth is more dangerous than the absence of truth. A half-truth can be more difficult to recognize than an outright lie. 

Here are two examples where the Apostle Paul deals directly with these issues.

• Galatians 1:9-10 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.

We should be aiming to please God

by our willingness to share His truth.

Here are a few simple but practical pointers for sharing the truth of God’s Word.

• Speak the truth in love.
• Be kind, patient, respectful and humble as you share God’s Word.
• Always be ready.
• You don’t have to be an expert about the Bible to share its fundamental truths. However, you should be reading your Bible regularly to grow in your faith and knowledge, and to help prepare you to share what the Bible says.
• Confront without being confrontational.
• Don’t apologize for what God’s Word says/means, but don’t be mean about it.
• Don’t reproach those who reproach you.
• Don’t take insults or attacks personally, any attacks directed at you because of God’s Word are actually directed at God.
• Don’t argue or bully.
• You can’t force someone to listen or believe – only the Holy Spirit of God can reveal the truth of His Word and change someone’s heart. Don’t force it.
• Pray.
• Pray before, during and after you share.

Prayer

Loving Father, please empower and enable Your children to effectively deliver the truth of Your Word to those who need to hear it (to those who know You and those who don’t). Guide us so that we never alter, omit or dilute Your truth. May Your will be done, may Your name be glorified. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.