The Supernatural Intercessory Ministry Of the Holy Spirit

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
— Romans 8:26

To whom do you go for help when you feel trapped, cornered, or pinned against the wall because of a situation you’ve fallen into? In moments like that, do you feel overwhelmed with a sense of desperation, or do you know where to turn for help?

I want to speak to you about the supernatural intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit. But today I’m not talking about prayer when I use the phrase “intercessory ministry.” I am talking about a very special, unique work of the Holy Spirit that is available to help you every day — especially in times when you’re feeling backed into a corner by situations in life.

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Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” I would like to draw your attention to the word “intercession” in the middle of this verse. It is the Greek word huperentugchano, an old word that does not appear to exist outside early Christian literature. It is the picture of one who comes upon someone who has fallen into some kind of quandary. Upon discovering the trapped person’s dilemma, he swiftly swings into action to rescue and deliver the one who is in trouble. Therefore, the word huperentugchano conveys the idea of a rescue operation.

Paul uses this word here to tell us about a special work of divine intercession — a special ministry performed by the Holy Spirit Himself when He sees that you are at a loss for words or that you are trapped in a situation and don’t know how to get out. Suddenly and supernaturally, the Holy Spirit falls into that place with you. Now you are no longer facing the challenge by yourself, for the Holy Spirit has stepped into your dilemma and is initiating a rescue plan to get you out of that mess!

The Holy Spirit feels everything you feel. He understands the complete inadequacy you are experiencing. He knows about every battle you are facing. He willingly joins you in your circumstances, sharing your emotions and frustrations. Then He begins to put a supernatural plan of rescue into operation to get you out of your mess!

The middle phrase of Romans 8:26 conveys this idea:

“…The Spirit Himself falls into our difficulty with us, initiating a supernatural rescue operation to get us out of the mess we’ve fallen into.…”

So the next time you get into trouble, there’s no need for you to sweat it out by yourself. The Holy Spirit is standing by, just waiting for you to ask for His assistance. Helping you is a part of His ministry, so never hesitate to say, “Holy Spirit, help me!” This is what the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about!

What challenges are you facing today? What problems seem bigger than your ability to handle by yourself?

Come to grips with your need for supernatural assistance, and open your heart to the Holy Spirit’s help today. As you do, you will liberate Him to release His mighty power in you. An answer to every problem is just around the corner as you allow the Holy Spirit to work His supernatural ministry of intercession in your life!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I thank You that the Holy Spirit joins me in the challenges I am facing in my life today. You sent Him to be my Helper, my Guide, my Teacher, and my Intercessor — the One who meets my problems head-on and helps me to overcome them! Rather than try to work out those problems by myself, I open my heart today for the Holy Spirit to join me as my divine Partner so I can be more than a conqueror in every situation!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that the Holy Spirit is my leading Partner in this life. When I need help, He is right by my side, ready to help me and to pull me through each challenge that I face. I know His voice; I partner with Him; and as a result, I enjoy continuous victory in my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of a time when you have experienced the supernatural help of the Holy Spirit?

2. What immediate change occurred when you sensed the Holy Spirit join you in that situation?

3. Do you need the Holy Spirit’s supernatural assistance with any challenges that you’re facing right now? Why don’t you write down those areas and talk to the Lord about them today?

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
— 1 Corinthians 3:16

In the final days of the Soviet Union, the leaders of one prominent city decided they would build a spectacular hotel to impress the many foreign guests who had begun to visit. The site for the hotel was chosen in the most prime and visible location in the city, and the architects finalized their plans for what they declared would be an outstanding architectural wonder.

The city was soon filled with people’s continual chatter about the many benefits this new building project would attract to the city. Eager to have the project finished, the city leaders announced an opening date for the hotel that was unrealistic, considering the amount of work that had to be done. Bulldozers began to move dirt, and concrete trucks began to pour concrete in great volumes. Yet it was soon apparent that the project was taking longer than expected. Impatient and fearful that they wouldn’t meet their own self-imposed deadline, city leaders urged the architects and builders to go faster and faster, even though rushing the construction could jeopardize the integrity of the structure.

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Before long, a huge, magnificent building was erected on the site — so tall that it could be seen from a great distance. You can imagine what a horror it was to the city leaders and to the entire city when they realized the building was starting to dangerously lean to the side! The foundation had been poured so quickly and with such inferior materials that it wasn’t able to hold up the weight of the structure. Eventually the building leaned so much that the entire project had to be abandoned. What had originally been intended as a great architectural achievement became the city’s greatest public embarrassment. Today that enormous building still stands leaning and abandoned in the very spot where it had been hastily built by leaders who refused to take the necessary time to ensure it was built properly. Instead of becoming the pride of the city as they had hoped, today it is a permanent reminder of how buildings should not be built.

In the apostle Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, he used the illustration of buildings and building materials to urge his readers to build their lives carefully and with materials of character that were long-lasting. He explicitly pointed out the need to construct their lives in such a way that they could survive the fires and tests that come with life. After speaking to them passionately on this subject, Paul asked them, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Notice that Paul said, “Know ye not.…” The word “know” in Greek is oida, which carries the idea of perception, understanding, or comprehension. By using the word oida at this juncture, Paul was asking his readers:

• “Don’t you understand what I am telling you?”
• “Don’t you grasp what I am trying to say to you?”
• “Don’t you get the picture I am trying to get across to you?”
• “Don’t you comprehend what I am saying?”

However, the word “know” — the Greek word oida — is preceded by the word ouk, which is the strongest negative in the Greek language. This means that after everything Paul had told the Corinthian believers thus far, he was still concerned that they weren’t getting the full impact of what he was trying to tell them. So in conclusion, he pleaded with them, “Don’t you get it? Don’t you understand?”

As a Christian leader, I have counseled vast numbers of people throughout the years of my ministry, and I can confidently tell you that most people do not think on a long-term basis about their lives. Most live for today with no long-range planning for tomorrow. A simple proof of this is the large number of people who spend every dollar they make and put no money in the bank or invest nothing for retirement. When the age of retirement comes, they have nothing more than their Social Security pay to live on, and they struggle financially. Their claim that there was never enough extra money to save is usually not true. There was extra money, but it was spent on “other things” that brought fleeting, temporary pleasure. Now those “other things” are gone; the bank account is empty; and there is not enough money to live life normally. Although it’s not always true, a person’s experience of lack at retirement age is often a matter of shortsightedness and lack of long-term planning.

Let me bring this point right to your home in order to make it clearer. What are your financial plans for your future? Are you building a financial base with savings or investments that will help you live a normal life after you retire and you no longer have a monthly paycheck coming to you? What about your children or grandchildren? When you look at the way they’re living their lives and spending their money, do you see that they’re living only for the present, or are they thinking about their future?

I know I’m hitting a sensitive issue, but addressing people’s personal finances makes the point very clear that the majority do not think long-term about what they are doing with their lives. For example, think how many people decide they must buy a new TV set because they saw one they like better than the one they already have, even though their current one works fine. To satisfy that fleeting “want,” they quickly run to the store to purchase that new TV — and if they don’t have the money, they charge it on their credit cards. Now they have a new TV sitting in their living room, but that money could have been invested in their future if they had opted to put it into a savings account or investment plan. This is all the result of short-term thinking.

Living for today with no thought for tomorrow is a flaw in human nature. In 2,000 years, people haven’t made much progress in this area. Just as I am pleading with you today to assess your life and the way you are building it, Paul pleaded with the Corinthian believers when he asked them: “Don’t you know? Don’t you get what I’m trying to tell you? How could it be possible that you still don’t understand what I’m trying to tell you?”

Building your life is very similar to constructing a big building. A building must be constructed correctly and with good materials. It can’t be built too quickly, or the integrity of the structure might be compromised. Likewise, to build your life, your family, your business, your education, your church, your ministry, or anything else that is precious to you — and to build it wisely and strong enough to endure the tests of time — requires time, energy, patience, and careful planning. Remember, you are building your life and your future, and what you do today will have a direct impact on your tomorrow. Mistakes made today will show up tomorrow, so it is wise to move slowly and deliberately and to think before you act. Never forget that hasty decisions are usually wrong decisions.

Paul told the Corinthians, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God.…” This statement is so very important, because it tells us that we are not only building our personal lives and things that personally affect our future, but we — that is, our lives, our bodies, and everything that we are — are in fact the “temple” where God resides in this earth. This word translated “temple” that Paul used in this verse is the Greek word naos. It is a word used 46 times in the New Testament, so its meaning is very clear. It denotes a temple or a highly decorated shrine. (For a deeper study on this word naos, see Sparkling Gems 1, February 25.)

When we hear the word “shrine,” our minds immediately evoke images of a building with arched, vaulted ceilings; marble, granite, gold, and silver; hand-carved etchings; and lots and lots of smoke from incense being burned as a part of worship. Shrines are impressive with all their ornamentation. In Russia where my family lives, there are many huge cathedrals that fit this description — and they are very impressive. However, in the New Testament, the word naos doesn’t describe only shrines such as these. It is also the word most often used to depict the Holy of Holies, that special room in the Jerusalem temple where God’s glory dwelt.

Please take heed to what I am about to tell you. Life is busy, and there are many things that occupy our thoughts and schedules. In the rush of it all, we are tempted to forget who we are and who lives inside us. We tend to think of ourselves as mere human beings, but the Bible plainly teaches that we are much more than that. According to Paul’s words in First Corinthians 3:16, you and I are the “temple” of the Spirit of God. Let the realization sink into your heart that God’s Spirit actually lives in us. This means we are His dwelling place, His residence — the place where He continually abides.

God lives in you! That’s why as you build your life and future, you must be careful to build it gloriously and not shabbily, for it is the place where God lives. That’s also why it’s good to regularly evaluate yourself. Are you building your life wisely so that you survive every season of life, every attack of the devil, every period of hardship, and every fire that comes to you in life? Are you building your life in a way that demonstrates your respect for the One who lives inside you? Are you building your life so carefully, wisely, and honorably that the Spirit of God who dwells inside you is honored that you are His place of residence? If you were God, would you want to live inside you?

I realize that time is precious and that we are all tempted to do things as fast as possible. But some things are worthy of taking extra time to make sure they are done correctly. You don’t want to build so quickly that you build incorrectly, in a way that ultimately forces you to abandon the project or to tear down what you’ve built and start all over again. I promise you that it will cost you more than it would have if you had done it right in the right place. Building correctly from the beginning usually takes more time, but it pays off in the end.

As you make your plans for today, seriously consider how your actions may affect your tomorrow. You may be tempted to take shortcuts to speed things up, but do all you can to resist that temptation so you can be sure you’re not adversely affecting the quality of what you are building with your life. And as you examine what you have already built, ask yourself:

• Have I built my life strong enough to survive every test? Or have I built it so shabbily that much of what I have achieved will have to be torn down and started all over again, ultimately costing me much more than if I had done it right from the start?
• Will my current decisions and actions make a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit that is glorious, or will my actions create a place unbefitting of His residence in my life?

These are important questions to ask as you consider what you’ve already done with your life and the future actions you’re about to take. Don’t forget that what you do today will affect your life tomorrow, so determine to build carefully and wisely. Never forget that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that what you do with your life brings Him either honor or disrespect.

In light of what you’ve read in this Sparkling Gem, do you hear the Holy Spirit pleading with you to make a change in the way you are building your life, your family, your business, your education, your church, your ministry, or anything else that is precious to you? Do you hear Him saying:

• “Don’t you know?”
• “Don’t you get what I’m trying to tell you?”
• “How could it be possible that you still don’t understand what I’m trying to tell you?”

Before you do anything else, why don’t you take few minutes today to get on your knees and ask the Spirit of God to help you assess what you are constructing with your life? It is far better to ask now and let Him tell you what you could be doing better than to never ask and later regret that you didn’t. James 1:5 promises that if you ask God for wisdom, He will answer you. If you’ll take time to ask, He will take time to help you see everything that is needed to build your life so well that it can pass all the tests of time.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I want to thank You for speaking to my heart today about the things I am building both correctly and incorrectly in my life. In retrospect, I realize that I have built many things in my life that I now wish I had done differently. I no longer want to live my life in regret for making wrong decisions. I confess that much of what I have built, I have built hastily and with no regard for the wisdom of long-term thinking. As a result, I am reaping the consequences of my past decisions. I ask You to forgive me for not thinking more soundly in the past, and by faith I receive Your forgiveness. Now as I look to the future, I ask You to speak to my heart and show me how to bring correction to what I have done so that I will not repeat the same mistakes. Holy Spirit, I look to You for counsel and direction. I thank You in advance for Your help as I begin to build a life that will bring honor to You and that will gloriously survive all the tests that come in life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare by faith that I build my life according to the wisdom of God, with forethought and sound planning. God lives in me — and because I respect His presence in my life, I build my life in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. I give place to the counsel of the Holy Spirit who helps and directs me in such a way that I build orderly, not hastily. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I carefully build my life in a way that honors His presence in me. I repent for my carelessness in the past. Today I choose to be careful, thoughtful, and prayerful about building my life and my future. I ask for wisdom from above and God answers me — providing me with all the answers I need to build a life that lasts and a life that brings glory to His name.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. When you look at your life and the things you have built with it, are you satisfied that you have built your life correctly, or do you see areas where you know you could have done better? What are those areas that you wish you had built more wisely? Can you correct them? If so, how will you go about that task?
2. What has been the long-term affect on your life from building too hastily and without thought of tomorrow? If you had it to do all over again, what types of changes would you make in the way you have built your life?
3. In order for you to build the rest of your life wisely and strongly, what changes do you need to make in the way that you think? What habits do you need to change? What plans do you need to incorporate concerning your family, your relationships, your job, your education, your finances, and the way you spend your time?
4. As you assess what it’s going to take for you to make these significant changes, can you honestly say you’re willing to do what is required? If not, are you willing to ask the Holy Spirit to give you the desire to change?

Are You an ‘Amateur’ Or a ‘Professional’?

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
— 2 Timothy 2:5

It is a fact that hardships nearly always reveal the real level of a person’s commitment to Jesus Christ. When everything is going well and there are no challenges, it’s easy to serve God. But when things get tough and people are faced with hard decisions, this is the golden moment when the real level of their commitment is revealed — when they have to decide, Will I remain faithful in the hard times? You can be certain that if a flaw exists in their commitment to Jesus, difficult episodes in life will bring that defect to the surface.

In the former Soviet Union, I know many people who paid a very high price for their faith in Jesus Christ. The rulers of that past time sent many believers to prison; deported others to slave labor camps; and incarcerated still others in psychiatric hospitals, where they were treated as mental patients because they believed in God. The Soviet leadership found all sorts of ways to disdain, humiliate, and mock Christians for being different. It was therefore a very serious matter to believe in Jesus Christ, requiring a life commitment.

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This is really true about all levels of life. For instance, you may say that you are committed to your spouse, a friend, to your employer, or even to your church. But what if problems emerge in those relationships that make you feel uncomfortable? What if being faithful requires you to stick with someone who is suddenly unpopular? Will you remain faithful to that relationship if problems arise in it? Will you stick to your commitment and keep your word — or will you tuck your tail and run from the stress, tossing the relationship to the wind?

You see, hard times really do reveal the truth about who people are! Doesn’t it make you grateful for the people who have stayed with you through the high moments and low moments, through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad times? Friends like these are very rare, so make sure you never take them for granted. They have proven the sincerity of their commitment to you by sticking with you through it all.

In Second Timothy, many people were defecting from the faith because hard times had come. Staying faithful to Jesus meant they might face persecution, beatings, imprisonment, or even death. Before the persecution commenced, the church at Ephesus was growing rapidly. But now it was declining as the newly arrived adversities exposed the genuine level of people’s faith.

In the midst of these trying times, Paul wrote to Timothy about the attitude that is essential to survive difficult times. Although Paul was making a statement, he was also asking a very pointed question. He said, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

The word “strive” is the Greek word athlesis, which always describes athletic activities or sporting events. It also notably depicted professional athletes. As time passed, it expressed the idea of any event in life that demands one’s labor or sweat and tears. It indicated exertion, effort, and commitment. It could refer to either physical exertion or mental exertion.

Just as in our world today, there were both amateur and professional athletes at the time Paul wrote this letter. If someone was an amateur, he wasn’t a serious contender and would not participate in the harshest competitions. However, if he was a professional athlete, he was so committed that he was ready to compete, no matter how intense the opposition or how difficult the circumstances. This is the idea Paul is conveying when he used the word athlesis in this verse.

Paul was in essence asking:

•  Are you an amateur who serves the Lord just for fun?
•  Have you committed yourself to go all the way to the end, regardless of the fight that ensues?
•  Are you serving the Lord only because it’s popular and enjoyable for the moment?
•  Are you a professional that is willing to pay any price, undergo any kind of hardship, bear up under any pressure, and endure it all until you come out the winner?
• Are you really committed?

If you’re not committed, you’ll never make it to the end. But if you do, Paul says there is a “crown” waiting for you. That word “crown” is the word stephanos, and it refers to a victor’s crown. In the ancient games, it was a wreath of leaves placed on the head of the winning athlete. As far as value goes, it wasn’t worth anything — but what it represented was worth the struggle! An athlete who walked away with the victor’s crown was honored for the rest of his life. The memory of his achievement would be etched into society, ensuring that he would never be overlooked or forgotten during the course of his life.

If you are a serious contender for doing the will of God — if you don’t allow anything to stop you, no matter what challenges the devil and life may try to throw at you — you will walk away with the respect and honor of others at the end of the battle. They will see that the sincerity of your faith was genuine and proven, surviving the hard times. Yours wasn’t a flawed faith that tucked its tail and ran in tough times. No, you stuck it out and showed who you really are! As a result, people will never forget that you stood true to your commitment!

Isn’t it true that you remember and almost stand in awe of people:

•  Who stayed faithful to their friends, even through hard times?
•  Who kept their commitment to their spouse, even though their marriage was hurting?
•  Who remained faithful to their pastor in spite of the hard times in the church?
•  Who stuck by their principles and refused to bend to the pressures that came to break them?

Let’s face it — people who fit into these categories are pretty rare in today’s world. But they are champions to the rest of us! They are examples of what we should try to become. Although they endured a lot to keep their commitments, as a result they stand as heroes to those who have observed their spiritual race. Their crown in this life is the special place of honor that has been etched in other people’s minds because of their accomplishments. They proved to be professional believers — not just amateurs who were along for the ride until it cost them something!

What kind of believer are you today, friend? Are you a professional, or are you an amateur?

You must come to a place of honesty in your spiritual walk where you are willing to ask yourself these questions. You see, it’s fun to serve the Lord when it’s easy and convenient. But what if God asks you to step out of your life of ease to accept a bigger challenge? That’s the moment of discovery when you find out what kind of spiritual athlete you really are!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I want You to see me as a professional! Therefore, I choose to put away amateurish Christian attitudes and behaviors! For me to be all You want me to be, I understand that it’s going to require more of me. Right now I am making up my mind to move to a higher level of commitment with God, to give Him all that I have, and to never stop until the job is done and the assignment is complete! Help me move into the “professional league” as a believer and to leave the life of the amateur behind forever!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am a serious contender for doing the will of God! In spite of what the devil and life may try to throw at me, I will walk away as the winner. I will survive hard times and thus prove the sincerity of my faith. Mine isn’t a flawed faith that tucks its tail and runs. I am the kind of Christian who sticks it out to the end!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Does your level of commitment reveal that you are an amateur or a professional Christian?

2. Do you face hardships bravely, or do you tuck your tail and run when things get tough?

3. What would other people say about your level of commitment? Why not ask a few friends to tell you what they think, giving them the right to be totally honest with you?

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man….
— 1 Corinthians 10:13

Have you ever noticed that the more you focus on a problem, the bigger and more intense it seems to become? In fact, if you don’t get a grip on your emotions in these situations, your mind will try to blow that problem far out of proportion. Even if you’re facing a real crisis, you have the power to get your mind under control with help from the Holy Spirit. However, if you let your emotions have their way, they will play the worst-case scenario over and over in your mind until it finally manifests as a reality in your life.

That’s why it is so important to decide beforehand how you’re going to respond to negative situations! Instead of blowing them out of proportion, you can make the decision before anything bad even happens that you and the Holy Spirit are bigger and stronger than any problem that will ever come your way. The two of you together, armed with the all-powerful name of Jesus, can tackle and overcome anything that ever comes against you! Plus, if you are blessed to have one or two friends who can encourage you in the Word or with agreement in prayer, you have everything to shout about!

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The principle is precisely the same when dealing with temptations. All temptations begin as thoughts in the mind. They might appeal to your flesh, but each one of them first takes form in the mind and emotions. In the beginning, those thoughts are manageable, conquerable, and even rejectable. If you’ll just change your focus, get out of the situation, and minimize it in your mind by refusing to focus on it, you can leave that temptation in the dust.

Or if you feel that you’re losing the battle alone, you can open your heart to a faithful friend and ask for help. With the power of the Holy Spirit and a dear friend at your side, every temptation can really be downplayed, minimized, and conquered!

I like how the apostle Paul taught about this in First Corinthians 10:13. He said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.…” The word “temptation” is very fierce in the Greek language. It’s the word peirasmos, and it depicts that moment when we feel seized and squeezed by eternal or internal forces that are designed to take us down. But these feelings are momentary and relatively powerless according to Paul. It’s all a masquerade of flesh merely trying to act powerful. Paul described these as being “common to man.”

The phrase “common to man” is a translation of the Greek word anthropinos, which describes things that are normally experienced by human beings and are therefore not exceptional. Rather than blow these temptations out of proportion, Paul downplayed them as being commonplace. Furthermore, he continued by saying that God “…with the temptation will make a way to escape…” (1 Corinthians 10:13). If these temptations were truly overpowering, they would be inescapable. However, Paul clearly stated that we can easily escape them.

The word “escape” is the Greek word ekbasis, which is a compound of the words ek and basis. The word ek simply means out, and the word basis means to step. When these two words are compounded, the new word ekbasis means to step out. In other words, you can walk away from or step out of a temptation just as easily as you walked into one.

It’s all a matter of what you believe.

The devil will always try to convince you that you are a tiny, powerless being with no authority to withstand his lies. If you take his bait, you’ll have a very difficult time walking away from the temptations that assail your mind. Instead, you can choose to think like Paul and say, “These silly temptations are nothing special that human beings haven’t faced many times. There is nothing powerful or special about them, and I will walk away from these emotions.” As you do, you’ll find your stance of authority in Christ has increased in strength, and the mental drama you used to experience from those negative thoughts will become negligible!

Decide beforehand how you’re going to respond to negative thoughts! You have to make the decision to believe that you and the Holy Spirit are bigger and stronger than any problem that will ever come your way. With Jesus on your side, you can look at those temptations and declare, “You do not have authority over me! You are nothing more than a simple human temptation that has affected millions of people through history before me, and there are legions of people who have resisted and defeated you. And today I am being added to the number of those who say NO to you! I refuse to let this temptation become a drama! I am picking up my feet and walking away from your voice. In the name of Jesus, you have no more authority over me!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for the truth of Your Word. I allow it to transform me into a new person by changing the way I think. Anytime I feel seized and squeezed by eternal or internal forces designed to take me down, help me remember that there is no temptation that is not common to man. With every temptation that presents itself, You also present the way of escape from it.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare that I make the decision to leave temptation in the dust. I choose to magnify the Lord and minimize every attempt to lure and appeal to my flesh through temptation in any form. I am not powerless or without authority and strength. I stand strong in the boldness, authority, and strength of God by the power of His Spirit within me. Because I am born of God, I am an overcomer in this life! Knowing that Jesus Christ Himself and countless others have resisted and defeated the very same temptation, I choose to walk away from these silly temptations and the emotions that surround them! The Holy Spirit in me is bigger than any temptation that tries to come against me — I can simply walk away from it!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of a temptation or thought that has tried to habitually keep you down and depressed? What do you think about it now after reading today’s Sparkling Gem? Do you still think this thought or temptation holds power over you, or do you think that you’ve just been hoodwinked by the devil in this respect?
2. You’ve said no to many things in the past — what is keeping you from lifting your voice and exercising your authority right now? Is it that you enjoy the sin? Be honest!
3. Can you honestly say you’re facing something more insurmountable than the power of God can overcome? Why don’t you dig your heels in the ground, tell the devil to hit the road, throw up your arms, and start rejoicing that this particular temptation has no right to exercise itself over you any longer?

Run Like You Are In the Race of Your Life

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
— 1 Corinthians 9:24

The main goal of all believers should be to find God’s plan for their lives and then to go after it with all their might and strength. But most Christians have never even awakened to the fact that God has a special race for them to run! This is why Paul asked the Corinthians, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but only one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Paul teaches us here that we are in a “race.” The word “race” is the Greek word stadion, which later became our word stadium. However, it first described a race course that was 600 feet in length or one-eighth of a Roman mile — the exact length that was used in the Olympics of the ancient world and in the Isthmian Games that were held near the city of Corinth. Because Paul was highly educated, he knew precisely what he was doing when he used a word that described the Olympic race course of his day.

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As noted above, eventually the word stadion became the word for a stadium, a place where athletic competitions were held. Since this is the picture Paul has in his mind as he uses the word “race,” let’s stop to consider the Olympic competitions and competitors of that time.

The winners of the Olympic competitions were rewarded both materially and with great honor; however, if you study the Olympic champions in the ancient world, you will see that the primary emphasis of reward was not on material wealth, but on the distinguished honor bestowed on the winners. These people were only able to achieve victory in the Olympic games by being disciplined, balanced, and committed to excellence; for these qualities, they were held in high regard. They became revered as heroes, gods, or icons in their society. Respect, honor, notoriety, and fame became their lifelong reward.

In addition to these ideas, it is also important to note that the word “race,” from the Greek word stadion, depicted the huge arena where athletic competitions were held. Paul uses this word to tell us that when we enter the race of faith, it puts us in the center of the arena. People see us as we walk by faith. They know of our struggles, and they watch as spectators to see if we will win our battles.

We must always keep in mind, therefore, that we’re not running a private race of faith, but a race that has influence on many people’s lives. Hence, Paul urges us to run our race in a way that encourages the bystanders who are watching from the sidelines to jump into the race themselves and pursue their destiny in God!

By using these ideas, Paul was communicating to the Corinthians (and to us) that we need to see ourselves as spiritual Olympic competitors! This life we lead is no game; it is the most serious competition we will ever face in this world. The rewards of a life well lived are enormous. Not only will God materially reward us as we are faithful to His call, but He also reserves eternal rewards of honor and glory for those of us who run our race well in this life (Romans 2:10).

It is interesting that Paul says, “…They which run in a race run all….” Notice particularly the emphasis “run all.” It means every believer is in some kind of race. A believer may not have awakened to the race he is in yet, or perhaps the race hasn’t yet been revealed to him. Nevertheless, the fact remains that God has a specific plan for every individual.

Our task is to find the divine plan for our lives; to get in shape so we can start running our race; and then to run like mad so we can finish in first place! That’s why Paul exhorted us, “…Run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

You see, runners have one thought foremost in their minds — the finish line! With this analogy in mind, Paul tells you to run your spiritual race with all your might, keeping your focus on the goal — the divine call on your life as God has revealed it to you. You may ask, “How long am I supposed to keep running and trying to reach my God-given goals?” The answer is until you “obtain” what God called you to do!

The word “obtain” is the Greek word katalambano, which is a compound of two words, kata and lambano. The word kata describes something that is coming downward, and the word lambano means to take or to seize something. When compounded together into one word, katalambano means to grab hold of, to seize, to wrestle, to pull down, and to finally make a desired object your very own. This is the picture of someone who finally sees what he wants — and instead of letting that goal he desires slip away, he pounces on it, seizing it and latching hold of it with all his might!

Paul uses this word katalambano to depict the attitude of a runner who is running with all his energy, straining forward as he keeps his focus fixed on the finish line. At last the runner reaches the goal, and the prize is now his! He gave that race all he had to give, and it paid off! Had he approached the race with a casual, lazy attitude, the prize would have gone to another. But because he ran to obtain that prize, in the end that’s exactly what he did!

There is no doubt that you have a divine purpose for your life, something God has called you to do. God has marvelous ideas and plans for your life! The question is this: Do you want to fulfill His plans for you? If your answer is truly yes, then set your heart on your goal. Don’t be half-hearted, mealy-mouthed, touchy, or easily discouraged. It’s time for you to develop some resolve!

Do you see yourself as someone who is running the spiritual Olympic event of his or her life? Or are you simply “jogging for Jesus”? If you’re serious about fulfilling God’s plan for your life, it’s time to shift into high gear and to start putting all your spiritual, mental, and physical energies into getting the job done. You have to remove all distractions and commit yourself to a life of discipline, balance, and devotion.

Your attitude must be, “I’m going to run this race, and I’m going to WIN it! I’m not going to live my whole life missing out on what God has for me! No matter what inconvenience I endure, what price I have to pay, or what adjustments I have to make, I am going to faithfully run my race so that one day I can obtain the prize — the fulfillment of God’s call on my life!”

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to set my eyes on the finish line and never lose my focus until I know that I’ve accomplished the task You have given me to do. I know it’s going to take all my spiritual, mental, and physical energies to get this job done. So I am turning to You now, Holy Spirit, and I’m asking You to empower me and to help me make it all the way to the completion of the dream You have given to me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I declare that I have a divine purpose in life! I am not half-hearted, mealy-mouthed, touchy, or easily discouraged. I am like a runner who is seriously running a race. Because I’m serious about achieving God’s plan for my life, I am shifting into high gear and putting all my spiritual, mental, and physical energies into getting the job done.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do you know what race you are supposed to be running in your life?

2. Are you running that race with 100 percent of your effort, or are you just half-heartedly jogging along in your life?

3. For you to achieve what God has told you to do, what changes of attitude and behavior do you need to make in your life? Write these changes down so you can pray about them!

The Lord Will Reckon With You When He Comes!

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
— Matthew 25:19

No one likes to think about judgment, but there is a day in all our futures when we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account for our lives. Paul makes this very clear in Second Corinthians 5:9 and 10, where he writes, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 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.”

The judgment seat of Christ is a subject rarely taught today, but simply because it is ignored doesn’t mean it has ceased to exist. Some assert there will be no judgment for believers. However, these people are misinformed, for Paul makes it unmistakably clear that every person will stand before Jesus on that Day and give account for his or her life.

Our attitude changes dramatically when we live with the awareness that one day we will stand before the Lord “eyeball to eyeball” and answer for how responsibly or irresponsibly we lived our lives. There will be no fast talking on that day, because every lie and excuse will evaporate in His glorious light.

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For this reason, I do my best to live every day of my life with the thought that one day I will answer for what I do. I make the most of every minute, walk in love to the best of my ability, use the gifts and talents God has given me, and strive to obediently and successfully fulfill every task the Lord has given to me.

In Matthew 25, Jesus taught a parable to let us know that a day of reckoning is coming for all of us. After distributing measurements of money to three different servants, a certain lord (or employer) left on a long journey. When he came back, he wanted to see what his three servants had done with the money he had given them, so he called them in for a review.

The King James Version of verse 19 says, “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” Just as this lord returned in the parable, Jesus is coming back again one day not so far away. Just as this lord reckoned with his servants, Jesus will reckon with us when He returns. Therefore, we need to know what the Bible means when it says Jesus will “reckon” with us.

The word “reckon” comes from the Greek phrase sunairei logon meta. It is a commercial term that means to compare accounts. It is also a bookkeeping phrase that means to look at the record, to study the facts, to compare accounts, or to settle an account. This phrase would normally be used to portray an accountant who is putting together a profit-and-loss statement for his boss. He isn’t just skimming the surface; he is digging deep to analyze the real financial status of the corporation.

It’s very significant that Jesus used this word because it tells us the Lord is never satisfied with taking a shallow look at what we have done for Him! Neither will He just accept our word for it; rather, He will search and dig until He obtains a real picture of what we did or didn’t do for Him. In the end, Jesus’ examination of the facts will result in a very thorough investigation as He looks at what we have done and then compares it to what He asked us to do.

The only other place this Greek phrase is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 18:23 and 24, where it is used twice in one parable. It says, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousands talents.”

As in Matthew 25, this parable pictures a king — a superior power — who calls his servants in for a review of what they have or haven’t done. By thoroughly studying and examining the facts, he obtains a real picture of their situation. Armed with this knowledge, the king calls his servants to stand before him and give account for what they have done.

In using these Greek words, the Holy Spirit makes it hard for us to miss the point that a day is coming in the future when we are going to stand before Jesus to answer for our lives. On that day, we will look into His eyes and hear Him say, “Did you do what I asked you to do?”

Revelation 20:12 tells us that there are all kinds of record books in Heaven. One of them is called the Book of Life, but this scripture also says there are “books” that will be opened, containing records of what we did and didn’t do on this earth. These records must be very important, for they are saved in the archives of Heaven itself. And in each of our futures, there will come a day of reckoning when those books are opened. On that day, the Lord Jesus will look over the “profit-and-loss statement” for our lives, comparing what we did to what we were actually supposed to do.

This judgment will not be in regard to our salvation, for if we are at the judgment seat of Christ, we are already eternally saved. However, that day will determine our reward. Those who fulfilled the assignment Jesus gave them will receive a reward (1 Corinthians 3:14). Those who were not obedient will still be saved, but they will have no reward to show for their lives (1 Corinthians 3:15).

Matthew 25:19 could be interpreted:

“And when the lord of those servants returned, he called them up for a review — intending to thoroughly look at all the facts, to examine all the accounts, to determine the real status of what they had and had not done, and to make them accountable to him for what he discovered.”

Life is very serious, friend. Jesus expects us to do something with the gifts, talents, abilities, and assignments that He has entrusted to us. Therefore, since we know that a day of reckoning awaits us, let’s do everything we can to please Jesus. Let’s live in the constant awareness that one day we will stand before Him to answer for what we did in this life.

Consider this question: If you were required to stand before Jesus today and to answer for your personal record, what would the records reflect about you?

Starting today, why not put your whole heart into doing what He asked you to do? Decide to step out in faith to use your gifts, talents, and abilities. Choose to put aside those fears that have kept you from a life of obedience; then move forward by faith to do what God has asked you to do. As long as you’re doing everything you can to please Jesus and to walk in obedience, you have no reason to fear that day when you stand before Him and give account for what you have done!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me live with the awareness that a day of reckoning is in my future. Your Word makes it clear that on the day I stand before You, I will answer for what I did in this life. I will give account for the gifts, talents, abilities, ideas, and assignments You entrusted to me. On that day, I want to look into Your face with confidence, so help me NOW to faithfully use the abilities You’ve given me to execute every task You have asked me to do!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I boldly acknowledge that a day of reckoning is coming in my future. On that day, I will give account for what I did or didn’t do in this life. Therefore, I will use the gifts, talents, and abilities Jesus has given to me. I will faithfully execute every assignment He has asked me to do. I will do everything within my power to please Jesus in the way that I serve Him. I will make sure that my conscience is clear with God and with myself.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do you ever think about the day that you will stand before Jesus to give account for your life?

2. Does that thought give you peace, or does it bother you because you know you haven’t been obedient to pursue what God has asked you to do?

3. What do you need to do differently in your life to have peace about this question?

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
— Colossians 4:5

When a Christian has done something so unethical or revolting that it discredits the testimony of Jesus Christ in front of unbelievers who are watching, that Christian has a responsibility to do what is necessary to “redeem the time” and consequently regain his testimony. It is absolutely vital that he make things right with those individuals. It may be necessary for that Christian to swallow his pride, admit he did something wrong, and apologize so that he can restore his testimony.

If you are the one who has done something wrong and have thereby marred your testimony, it’s not too late for you to turn your testimony around! Thank God, the apostle Paul told us that we can “walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5).

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The word “redeem” is from the Greek word exagoridzo, and it is the old Greek word used to depict someone purchasing a slave out of the slave market. The word exagoridzo is a compound of the words ex and agoridzo. The word ex is a preposition that means out, and agoridzo is the Greek word most notably used to describe the slave market — a disgusting place where human beings were bought, sold, and traded like animals. This market was officially called the agora, and from this, we get this Greek word agoridzo.

When these words ex and agoridzo are compounded to form the word exagoridzo, it pictures a buyer who has gone to the market to purchase a slave so he can set free and restore him to the freedom he formerly possessed. Therefore, the word exagoridzo — translated as the word “redemption” in the King James Version — actually pictures permanently removing a slave from slavery in order to return him to the status of freedom he enjoyed before he was enslaved.

But in Colossians 4:5, the word exagoridzo isn’t used in its normal sense to describe redemption from sin. Instead, the apostle Paul used it in the phrase “redeeming the time.” This means time that is lost can be redeemed! If you are willing to do whatever is needed to make it happen, God will enable you to regain and recoup time that was previously squandered. He can give you another opportunity that is so wonderful that it makes up for what you previously lost!

In fact, when Paul wrote of “redeeming the time,” the word “time” is the Greek word kairos, which would be better translated as the word opportunity. This means God will help you recoup, recover, regain, and retrieve lost time and opportunities!

One way that this phrase could be paraphrased is to buy back time. Considering that the word “redemption” (exagoridzo) is used here, an expanded interpretation of this phrase “redeeming the time” could read: “Do everything you can to make up for lost territory! Buy up all the time you can and make the most of every opportunity.”

• Can you think of opportunities you have lost along the way in life?
• Have you ever squandered an opportunity that God tried to set before you?
• Did God try to increase you, but as a result of negligence on your part, the increase went to someone else?
• Can you think of a possibility that God designed to be yours, but it never happened because you were too lazy to put forth the effort to make it happen?
• Did you lose opportunities to enjoy your children when they were younger because you didn’t take advantage of the time you were given to be with them?
• Have you forfeited your testimony in front of non-Christians because you did something unethical or ugly in front of them?

The truth is, we’ve all lost opportunities along the way in life for various reasons. Some of it was due to our own stupidity or ignorance. Some of it was due to hardships or difficulties in life that prevented us from doing what we wanted to do. But regardless of the reason, Paul told us that if we’re willing to go the distance to do whatever is necessary to “redeem time,” we can turn things around and end up with a lot of brand-new, wonderful opportunities that make up for any lost or wasted time in your past. I can hear the Holy Spirit crying out to us, “Do everything you can to make up for lost territory! I’ll enable you to buy up all the time you can and make the most of every opportunity.”

This brings us back to the subject of your influence on non-Christians. If you have damaged your testimony for some reason in front of non-Christians, that is truly unfortunate. Losing influence as a result of a lack of integrity or bad behavior will hinder your ability to represent Christ to the people around you. However, with God’s grace, even this can be changed and turned around. If you are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve it, He will help you redeem that lost time and damaged testimony.

For you to redeem the time and recover your testimony, God may require that you apologize to someone, admit you were wrong, or perhaps make a correction in some area of your life. If you are willing to swallow your pride and to do what is right, God will miraculously enable you to buy back a lot of missed opportunities and recover a testimony that had been lost.

Time is precious — and it is a fact that you cannot turn the clock back. Time, once you spend it, is gone. But if you are willing to repent and put forth the effort to correct your mistakes, God’s grace will go a long way in enabling you to buy back a lot of time, opportunity, territory, or testimony that you previously lost. The Holy Spirit can, and will, help you “redeem the time.”

The last part of Colossians 4:5 could read:

“Do everything you can to make up for lost territory! Make the most of every moment you have right now, and do everything you can to recover those precious moments and opportunities that you thought were lost forever.”

By choosing to repent, we are able to buy back our testimony and once again begin to make a right impression on the non-Christians we may have negatively influenced with our wrong actions in the past.

We must never forget that people are watching us! They see our walk; they hear our talk; and they notice what we say and what we do. We must live our lives wisely and prudently, especially for the sake of the non-Christians who are observing what we say and how we act. Time is a sacred and precious commodity that we must use carefully and not waste.

If you have damaged your witness, now is the time to let the Holy Spirit help you turn your testimony around so you can represent Jesus with honor before the unbelievers who are watching you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to help me make up for time and opportunities I lost or wasted along the way in my life. You have been so good to give me many possibilities for success, to witness, and to advance in life, but I have not taken advantage of everything You have tried to give me. Please forgive me for not being more serious or thoughtful in the past. I ask You for wisdom to know what I need to do to regain the things I’ve lost. Without You, I know that lost opportunities are gone forever; but with Your grace helping me, I can regain the things I lost and buy back the time I squandered. Thank You for helping me as I set my heart to do the things that will enable me to recoup what I lost earlier in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that God can miraculously help me regain time and opportunities that I lost or squandered in the past. Because I am repentant and willing to do whatever I must to make it happen, God is helping me recapture moments, open doors, possibilities, and relationships that seemed forever lost. Time is spent and the clock cannot be turned back, but God’s grace is so powerful that it will give me a new opportunity to do what is right. This time, I’ll not fail, for I am determined to please Jesus Christ with my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of opportunities that God planned just for you, but for some reason, you forfeited those opportunities and they passed to someone else?
2. It may be painful to remember, but can you think of a time when you should have been a beacon of light to a non-Christian, but because you did something that was wrong, you lost your witness with that person?
3. To recapture those lost opportunities, what do you need to do? What correction do you need to make? What apology do you need to make to someone? What changes are required for you to recover your testimony and regain an opportunity to be an example of Jesus Christ to those who are watching you?

Keep the Devil Where He Belongs — Under Your Feet

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly….
— Romans 16:20

Are you tired of the devil blocking your way and causing all kinds of disruptions and problems in your life, such as problems in your relationships, financial woes, or health problems? How would you like to lift your foot high and then slam it down as hard as you can on top of the devil — pounding, hammering, trouncing, crushing, and smattering him to bits under your feet? Does that sound like something you wish you could do?

Believe it or not, the apostle Paul encourages you to do exactly that! In Romans 16:20 he writes, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly….” The word “bruise” is taken from the Greek word suntribo, a word that significantly presents this notion of trampling the devil under your feet. The word was historically used to denote the act of smashing grapes into wine. However, it was also used to refer to the act of snapping, breaking, and crushing bones. In fact, it pictures bones that have been utterly crushed beyond recognition.

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This word suntribo is used in Mark 5:4 where the Bible tells us about the demon-possessed man of the Gadarenes. It says, “Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces.…” The phrase “broken in pieces” is this same word suntribo. Although bound in chains and fetters, the demonized man was sufficiently energized by the demons to be able to crush those fetters to pieces.

The use of the word suntribo in this verse portrays a demon-possessed man releasing so much rage and violence that he was able to obliterate, smash, demolish, and reduce those fetters to nothing. When he was finished, the fetters fell to the ground in a heap, twisted and deformed — so broken that they would never be used to hold anyone captive again.

Now Paul uses this same word in Romans 16:20 when he says we are to “bruise” Satan under our feet. However, notice that Paul says we are to bruise him under our feet “shortly.” This word “shortly” is extremely important because it takes the whole picture to the next level. It tells us what attitude we must demonstrate the next time the devil tries to get in our way or block our path.

The word “shortly” comes from a military term that described the way Roman soldiers marched in formation. They were instructed by their commanders, “You are Roman soldiers! Lift your feet high, stomp loud, and let everyone know you are coming through town. The sound of the stomping and pounding of your feet is the signal to let everyone know they need to get out of your way. And if someone is foolish enough to stand in your way — even if someone falls down in front of you — don’t you dare stop to ask them to move! Just keep marching, stomping, and pounding, even if it means you have to walk right over them!”

So when Paul uses the word “shortly,” he is referring to the pounding, stomping, crushing steps of a Roman soldier. And remember, Roman soldiers wore shoes that were spiked with nails on the bottom (see March 15). When a challenger stood in front of them — or if a person fell in their path — these soldiers would simply ignore the obstacle and keep marching, stomping, and pounding along their way, leaving the challenger or unfortunate person completely obliterated and trampled beyond recognition — an ugly, bloody sight.

What does all this mean for you and me today? It means the next time the devil tries to get in your way or block your path, you shouldn’t stop to politely ask him to move. If the enemy is stupid enough to challenge you and tries to hinder your plans, God tells you what to do in this verse: “Just keep walking! If the devil tries to stop you, just raise your feet high, pound down as hard as you can, and stomp all over him as you march forward. Crush and bruise him beyond recognition!”

However, it is important to point out that this smashing and crushing of Satan must be done in cooperation with God. Alone you are no match for this archenemy. That’s the reason Paul says, “…The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet….” In other words, this is a joint partnership between you and God. By yourself, you could never keep Satan subdued. But with God as your Partner, the devil has no chance of ever slipping out from under your heel!

Romans 16:20 suggests this idea:

“The God of peace will smash and completely obliterate Satan under your feet! If Satan tries to get in your way or to block your path, then it’s time for you to act like a soldier — lift your feet high, stomp and pound down hard, crushing the enemy under your feet and leaving him in a heap, trampled beyond recognition, as you march on….”

The glorious truth is that Jesus already completely destroyed Satan’s power over you through His death and resurrection. The devil was utterly smashed, crushed, and bruised when Jesus was victoriously raised from the dead (see January 31, February 11, February 28). Your God-given mission now is to reinforce the victory already won and to demonstrate just how miserably defeated Satan already is!

The enemy may try to lord himself over you; he may attempt to exert his foul influence over your life. However, he is merely using empty threats and illusions to feed fear into your mind.

Never forget — the only place that rightfully belongs to the devil is the small space of ground right under your feet! Jesus accomplished a total, complete, and perfect work through the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the dead. That means your healing, your miracle, or your financial blessing already belongs to you! The victory is already yours!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, the next time the devil tries to get in my way or to block my path, help me to raise my feet high, pound down as hard as I can, and stomp all over him as I march forward unhindered to do Your will. I thank You that because of Your victory, Satan has no right to exercise this kind of control over my life anymore! With You working as my Partner, I can stare that old enemy in the face and command him to move. And if he tries to put up a fight, I can push him out of the way and walk on through!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I boldly declare that Jesus destroyed Satan’s power over me! Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the devil was utterly smashed, crushed, and bruised. Now my God-given mission is to reinforce that glorious victory and to demonstrate just how miserably defeated Satan already is. The enemy may try to lord himself over me, but he has no authority to exercise any control in my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do you see yourself as a victorious soldier in the army of God?

2. Are your problems under your feet today, or do you feel like you are constantly under the heel of your problems?

3. What are you going to do to turn this situation around? Write down ideas about what actions you can take to start winning the victory over the devil’s attacks in your life.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
— Colossians 4:5

One day as my wife and I were eating out, we discovered that the woman who served our table was a committed Christian. Since it was a slow day at the restaurant, we took a few minutes to talk to her. During our conversation, I happened to ask her what was the best and worst day of the week for a server in terms of tips. Without hesitation, she answered, “Sundays are the worst days. In fact, none of the servers in this restaurant want to work on Sundays. It’s the worst day of the week for a waiter.”

Fascinated by her answer, I asked her why no one wanted to work on Sundays. She told me, “As a Christian, I am embarrassed to say it, but the most demanding customers — those who are the hardest to please and leave the smallest tips — are usually Christians. In fact, when people come into the restaurant carrying their Bibles, the waiters and waitresses immediately start fighting about who has to serve that table because we know it’s going to take a lot of work and they won’t leave much of a tip.”

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She continued, “Isn’t it sad that a Bible in a person’s hands is the warning sign that trouble lies ahead?”

Hearing about this negative influence that Christians had exerted on the employees in that place of business, I decided to delve deeper and ask how this had affected those who worked with her. She categorically told me, “The people who work in this restaurant just can’t understand how Christians can go to church on Sunday and then come into this restaurant and treat the servers so badly. Most of the servers here would rather serve unbelievers because they treat them nicer and leave bigger tips.”

It is unfortunate — but true — that often Christians unintentionally do or say things that leave unbelievers with a sour taste in their mouths. These believers forget that their life is their pulpit and the strongest message they will ever preach.

It is a fact that many believers have lost their Christian influence because of things they do or say that reflect a wrong image of Jesus Christ. If we are honest, I think we all probably regret something we did or said in front of unbelievers at some point in our lives. We all have made comments or acted in ways that we later regretted.

For example, has there ever been a time when you listened to someone tell crude jokes, and later learned that the unbelievers who were present couldn’t understand how a Christian could laugh at such jokes? Have you ever acted so selfishly that you totally turned off the unbelievers you were trying to win for Christ? Or have you lost your temper, exploded in anger, or uttered words that were not fitting for a child of God — and unbelievers saw you do it?

If you have done any of these things, I don’t mean to make you feel guilty or condemned, but as Christians, we must always be aware that a lost world is watching. We can never forget that we may be the only Jesus some people will ever see. This is why we must constantly ask ourselves, “What kind of Jesus do people see as they watch my life?”

In New Testament times, most of society was spiritually lost. As in today’s world, the Christians of that time found themselves in a world that was hostile to the Gospel. Because they were a minority in their world and the rest of society didn’t understand them or their faith, they were constantly “watched” by the unbelieving world. The apostle Paul knew that if Christians would live uprightly, it would demonstrate their faith. Therefore, their lives were really the strongest message they could preach. In light of this, Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5).

First, I want you to notice the phrase “to them that are without.” This phrase is based on the Greek word exo, a word that means without or outside. It depicts those who are outside, like someone who is standing outside of a circle. You are either in the circle, or you are out of the circle. In this verse, the word exo describes people who are outside of Christ. The Jews used this Greek expression when they spoke of people who were outside the Jewish faith or were non-Jews. The apostle Paul used this identical phrase to portray people who are outside of Christ or who are non-Christian.

Hence, this part of the verse could be interpreted:

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are non-Christians.…”

The word “walk” is the often-used Greek word, peripateo. It is a compound of the words peri and pateo. The first part of the word is peri, which simply means around. The second part of the word is pateo. Typically, the word pateo means to walk, but it can be translated in a variety of ways, such as to walk, to step, to stride, or to tread. When the word peri and pateo are compounded into one word to form the word peripateo, the new word means to walk around, or to walk in one general area as a habit, or it describes a person’s lifestyle. It was often used to depict a constant and consistent way of life.

Therefore, when Paul told us to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without,” he was telling us that walking in wisdom in the presence of unbelievers should be a way of life for us. The use of the word peripateo (“walk”) clearly means we must constantly walk in wisdom when we are in the presence of people who are non-Christians.

The word “wisdom” is the Greek word sophia, a very old word that denotes wisdom but which also expresses the idea of discernment. In other words, you and I must use judgment about the things we do or say in the presence of unbelievers. We must be sensitive to the fact that they are monitoring our words and actions. We must use prudence, caution, good sense, carefulness, and good ol’ common sense in the way we conduct ourselves before non-Christians. We should be distinguishably different from them and the lost world around us. Unbelievers are watching and are monitoring our actions. By living upright lives before them, we can make a godly impact on them.

In light of these Greek words, the first part of Colossians 4:5 could be interpreted:

“Habitually walk in wisdom — live according to its dictates and let it set you apart from the world around you. You have a responsibility to walk prudently and to use discernment and common sense when you are in the presence of non-Christians who are observing how you live and what you do….”

In tomorrow’s Sparkling Gem, I want to talk to you about what to do if you have done some- thing that has given a wrong impression of Jesus Christ to non-Christians who are watching you. You may have to swallow your pride, but it is vital that you make things right with those individuals. If you don’t present the right image of Christ to them, your bad example could be the very thing that causes them to reject Christ and suffer an eternity without God.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to help me be more aware of the unbelievers who are watching my life. Forgive me for the times I’ve been preoccupied and forgotten that my life is my pulpit and the strongest message I will ever preach. Holy Spirit, help me to stay mindful that non-Christians watch how I live, what I do, and how I treat others. Help me to constantly be aware that my life may be the only sermon some people will ever hear. Help me live my life wisely and in such a godly manner that others will see a contrast between me and the dark world around them. Help me take advantage of every opportunity to shine the light of God’s love and His Word to those who sit in darkness.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am a good witness for Jesus Christ! When people see me — how I live, how I talk, how I act, and how I treat others — they are left with a good impression of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is teaching me how to shine like a light in darkness to those without Christ who are around me. Because of my Christ-like example, many people without Jesus will come into the Kingdom of God. Since my life is the only sermon some people will ever hear, I will live my life each day in a way that accurately reflects the Person of Jesus Christ!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever known a person who claimed to be a Christian but who had unethical practices in his life that horribly conflicted with his claims of Christianity? How did this hypocrisy affect unbelievers who were watching his life?
2. Is there anything you are doing right now that would give a wrong impression of Jesus to non-Christians who are watching? Why don’t you take a few minutes to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart so He can show you areas in your life where your testimony could be better?
3. Write down those areas the Holy Spirit has shown you where you could improve your Christian testimony. Once you make this list, put it in a visible place where you can be reminded to pray about it daily.

The Most Essential Weapon In Your Spiritual Arsenal

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth….
— Ephesians 6:14

Roman soldiers were dressed in beautiful armor! From head to toe, they were covered with various pieces of weaponry that were designed to protect them and equip them for fighting. But of all these pieces, one piece was more important than all the others. That vital and most important piece of weaponry was the Roman soldier’s loinbelt.

A loinbelt didn’t look important. Certainly no soldier would have written home and told his parents, “Wow, I’ve got the most incredible loinbelt!” He might have told them about his shield, his sword, or his breastplate, but no one got excited about the loinbelt. Nevertheless, it was the Roman soldier’s most important piece of weaponry. Why was this so? Because the loinbelt held many of the other pieces of weaponry together. If a soldier’s loinbelt wasn’t in place, he was in big trouble.

This is even true with modern clothing. For example, the belt I wear around my waist is not something people notice. They might mention my tie, my suit, my shirt, my sweater, and even my shoes. But to date, I’ve never had anyone walk up to me and say with excitement, “Wow, what a belt!” However, my belt is very important! If I removed it, I’d find out how important it is, because my pants would fall off! That makes my belt quite a vital part of my attire!

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

In the same way, the Roman soldier’s loinbelt was the piece of armor that held all the other pieces together. His sword hung in a scabbard that was clipped to the side of his loinbelt. When not in use, his shield was hung on a special clip on the other side of his loinbelt. The pouch that carried his arrows rested on a small ledge attached to his loinbelt on his backside. Even his breastplate was attached in some places to his loinbelt.

Accordingly, the soldier’s ability to use his other pieces of weaponry depended on his loinbelt. If he had no loinbelt, he had no place to attach his massive shield or to hang his sword. Without a loinbelt, there was nothing to rest his lance upon and nothing to keep his breastplate from flapping in the wind. The armor of a Roman soldier would literally come apart, piece by piece, if he didn’t have the loinbelt around his waist.

You can see why the loinbelt was absolutely essential to the Roman soldier in order for him to be confident in battle. With that belt securely fastened, he could be assured that all the other pieces of his equipment would stay in place, enabling him to move quickly and fight with great fury.

Thus, the loinbelt was the most vital part of all the weaponry the Roman soldier wore. Now consider all this in light of Ephesians 6:14, where Paul says, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth….” For the child of God, the loinbelt of his spiritual armor is the written Word of God — the truth.

When God’s Word has a central place in your life, you will have a sense of righteousness that covers you like a mighty breastplate. When God’s Word is operating in your life, it gives you the sword you need — that rhema word quickened to your heart by the Holy Spirit (see February 22). When God’s Word dominates your thinking, it gives you peace that protects you from the attacks of the adversary and shields your mind like a powerful helmet.

As long as the loinbelt of truth — the Word of God — is central in your life, the rest of your spiritual armor will be effective. But the moment you begin to ignore God’s Word and cease to apply it to your life on a daily basis, you’ll start to lose your sense of righteousness and peace. You’ll find that the devil will start attacking your mind more and more, trying to fill it with lies and vain imaginations. You see, when you remove God’s Word from its rightful place at the very core of your life, it won’t be long until you will begin to spiritually come apart at the seams!

If you want to stay clothed in your spiritual armor, you must begin by taking up God’s Word and permanently affixing it to your life. You have to give the Word a central place and dominant role in your life, allowing it to be the “loinbelt” that holds the rest of your weaponry together.

So as you go about your daily routine today and every day, keep your “loinbelt of truth” fully attached and operative in every situation you face. Let the Bible be the governor, the law, the ruler, the “final say-so” in your life!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I know that Your Word is the most important weapon You have given to me. Forgive me for the times I have not made it a priority in my life. Today I make the decision to never ignore Your Word again. Holy Spirit, help me stay true to this decision. Please remind me every day to open my Bible and take the time needed to wrap that Word around my life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

Because God’s Word has a central place in my life, I have a sense of righteousness that covers me like a mighty breastplate. God’s Word is operating in my life, giving me a powerful sword to wield against the enemy — that rhema word quickened by the Spirit of God to my heart in my time of need. And because God’s Word also dominates my thinking, I have peace that protects me from the attacks of the adversary and shields my mind like a powerful helmet.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Does the Word of God really have a central role in your life, or is reading your Bible something you do once in a while when it’s convenient to you?

2. Was there a time in your life when you devoured the Word of God? What kind of fruit did that period of time produce in your life? Take the time to write down your answers and really think about them.

3. What changes do you need to make in your schedule now to give God’s Word the central place it ought to have in your life?