For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what has thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
— 1 Corinthians 4:7

In the January 17 Sparkling Gem, I wrote about the feeling of inferiority that once tried to rule my life. If you are struggling with inferiority, I encourage you to go back and read that teaching again. However, today I want to address an issue at the opposite end of the spectrum — a spirit of superiority. When a person has this attitude, he feels he is spiritually superior to other people because of giftings, experience, social or economic status, or position in the church. But regardless of the reason a person feels superior to others, make no mistake — this attitude is absolutely unacceptable for a Christian.

In First Corinthians 4:7, we find that an attitude of spiritual snobbery was beginning to surface in the church of Corinth. This spirit of superiority was so prevalent that it had begun to permeate the entire Corinthian congregation. Paul responded with a sharp rebuke, saying, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what has thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

From its very beginnings, the church at Corinth had experienced an amazing amount of supernatural grace, which had manifested in a variety of ways. However, one way it had especially manifested was in the gifts of the Spirit that operated in their congregation. In fact, Paul even told them, “So that ye come behind in no spiritual gift…” (1 Corinthians 1:7), implying that the Corinthians had a greater measure of spiritual gifts operating in their midst than any other New Testament church. The phrase “come behind” is a translation of the Greek word hustereo, which means to be behind, to fall short of, or to be inferior. Thus, this verse could be translated, “You fall behind no one else in respect to spiritual gifts…” or “You are not inferior to anyone when it comes to spiritual gifts.…” In modern language, it could read, “When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, you are second to none!”

The Corinthian believers were aware of their unique status as a congregation, and they allowed it to go to their heads. Essentially, they developed a superiority complex and a snobbish attitude concerning their spirituality as compared to other churches. That is why Paul reminded them in First Corinthians 4:7, “…What hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

When Paul wrote “…why dost thou glory…,” he was referring to believers in Corinth who were boasting of themselves and putting others down who didn’t share their same spiritual experiences. In Greek, this word “glory” is kauchaomai, which means to boast of oneself, to uplift yourself, to imply that you are better than others, or to speak so highly of yourself that you derogatorily imply others are less than you. It can simply be translated to vaunt, and it conveys a pride that says, “I am better than you.” It is the very word that Paul used in First Corinthians 13:4 when he said, “Charity [that is, agape love] vaunteth not itself…” (see September 11 in Sparkling Gems 1). In other words, people who are motivated by love do not go around boasting about themselves in a way that leaves others feeling inferior!

It is important to note that the problem in the church of Corinth did not stem from the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit don’t foster pride. The problem was the character of the Corinthian believers, which needed to be dealt with by God!

Paul’s rebuke to the Corinthian believers tells us that we have no right to be prideful about our spiritual experiences. When you and I have been blessed by God with an extraordinary supernatural experience or knowledge of spiritual matters that exceeds that of many others, we should strive to demonstrate humility. We must not carry ourselves with an air of superiority, thinking we are better than others because they haven’t had our experience or attained to our level of knowledge. We must remember that everything we have, we received from God. We did nothing on our own, so we really have no reason to gloat about it as though we did! If we’ve really received something special from God, we need to show only humble gratitude for His gift.

Have you ever known a person who was snobbish toward other believers because of his great spiritual experiences or spiritual knowledge? To me personally, it’s a huge turn-off. The root of that superior attitude isn’t what the Holy Spirit has done in him; rather, it’s just a sign that He needs to do more in him!

So don’t get offended if you know someone like this. Just pray for that person — and pray for yourself, too, so that you never fall into the trap of acting like you’re better than others!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

 

Father, spiritual snobbery is a big turn-off. I ask You to help me look inward to discern if I have even the smallest hint of this in me. Lord, if anything like that exists in me, please show me, and begin the process to remove it from me! You resist the proud but give grace to the humble. Right now I humble my heart before You and I thank You for doing a work in my heart to remove any thought or attitude that does not please You or reflect Your holy ways.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am thankful for every spiritual experience I’ve had with the Lord. I am grateful for the knowledge God has blessed me to attain. But I realize that I have so much further to go and so much more to learn. I don’t think I’ve arrived, and I know there is so much more to reach for in God. Therefore, I choose to put my eyes on the adjustments I need to make, and I embrace God’s grace to change me. And if I’ve carried bad attitudes about spiritually snobbish people, today I release those attitudes and those people from my judgment. They belong the Lord, and they are not mine to judge!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of a person who was spiritually snobbish toward you? How did it affect you and others?
2. Have you ever been guilty of thinking of yourself as better than people who haven’t had your same experience? When you talk to others, do you make them desire your experience, or do you put them off because they feel put down by the way you talk to them?
3. As a thought exercise, why don’t you take a moment to think about the people you’ve thought were spiritually snooty and try to figure out what it is they do that makes you feel uncomfortable in their presence? Once you think it through, ask yourself if there is anyone to whom you’ve acted in a similar manner, and if so, ascertain what you need to correct so that people never feel that way in your presence again.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
— 1 Corinthians 3:15

I’ll never forget the day as a boy that I accidentally set our kitchen on fire! I had wanted to surprise my parents by cooking a wonderful meal for our family. I’d planned to set it on the table and have it ready for them when they arrived home from work. I cooked the corn, the green beans, and the biscuits — and, finally, it was time to fry the hamburger meat.

Because time was running out, I decided to turn up the fire so the meat would cook faster. The oil in the bottom of the pan grew so hot that it began to spit into the air. I jumped back to avoid being struck by it, but knew I had to do something quick because that hot oil was splattering all over the stove top and creating a huge mess. I reached to turn the fire down, but just as I did, the hamburger meat in the frying pan burst into flames! And when the fire on the meat burned down to the oil in the pan, the oil exploded into fire. My well-prepared hamburger patties were being cremated right before my eyes!

I reached for a pitcher of water and threw it on the flames to put the fire out. When I did, the hot, burning oil detonated like a bomb! An explosion of fire surged into the air. Red-hot embers of flaming hamburger exploded in front of me like lava spewing forth from a volcanic eruption. I watched as those burning embers sailed into my mother’s beautiful curtains that hung above the kitchen sink and engulfed them in flames. I was so completely stunned by what was happening that I stood motionless. I watched in shock as the fire consumed my mother’s delicate curtains.

Soon the tips of the flames reached upward and curled around the kitchen ceiling and cabinets. Smoke began to fill the room. The air became so smoke-filled that it began to hurt my eyes. That is when it dawned on me that I better act fast because I had a serious situation on my hands. So much happened so quickly that I don’t recall how the fire was extinguished. By the time my parents arrived home, the fire was gone. But instead of surprising them with a wonderful meal, they came home to a kitchen that was severely burned by a fire started with hamburgers!

The fire was gone, but the smell of smoke lingered for days. That acrid smell was in our clothes; it was in the walls; and it hung in the air. However, as bad as those cabinets looked, the damage was primarily cosmetic. With the aid of sandpaper, an electric sander, and a lot of hard work, my father put those burnt cabinets back in shape again. When he finished, no one could ever tell that there had been an inferno of flaming hamburger in our kitchen!

In First Corinthians 3:15, the apostle Paul wrote about the loss that can be created by fire. He wrote, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

The word “burned” in Greek is katakaio — a compound of kata, meaning down, and kaio, meaning to burn. When compounded, the resulting word means to burn down, such as a building that burns all the way to the ground. In other words, this is no small fire. This is a fire that completely devours a building so that nothing remains but the foundation. Normally we would say a building burned up, but in actuality the word katakaio in this verse means to burn down until nothing remains but the foundation.

Such a consuming fire would be a great loss! That is why Paul went on to say, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss….” The word “loss” is from the word zemia, which means to suffer loss, to experience damage, or to forfeit one’s reward. This word pictures great injury, harm, and loss of property. It is the sad image of a man standing in the burned-down, charred remains of his house or building — but in this case, he is standing in the midst of his works that are now burnt to a crisp! Now nothing remains but a pile of rubble. After all his years of living and doing, everything went up in smoke, and now he has nothing to show for his life or works!

But Paul gave us this good news: “…But he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Even though this person’s works have burned, he is still saved himself. His works have been lost, but not his salvation.

Although it’s good news that this person is still saved and headed to Heaven, Paul tells us that he is saved “yet so as by fire.” The phrase “yet so as by fire” comes from the Greek words dia puri. The word dia means through, and the word puri is the word for fire. When these words are used together as in this verse, most commentators agree that the Greek phrase means, “…He shall be saved, but like one who is escaping through the flames.” Or it could even be translated, “…He is saved, but he has the smell of smoke on his clothes.”

We should always be so thankful that God’s grace covers our sin, our mistakes, and the things we have built wrongly in our lives. But who wants to look into the face of Jesus and say, “Lord, I made it, but everything I did in my life went up in a puff of smoke”?

God has so much planned for us, and if we will listen to the Holy Spirit and build our lives and works wisely, our works will endure any fire that comes to test them. Then when we stand before Jesus, we will joyfully look into His eyes! Isn’t that better than having the smell of smoke on your clothes because your works were built so shabbily that they were burned in the fire and lost?

At the beginning of this Sparkling Gem, I gave the example of the kitchen I nearly burned to the ground. When the fire went out, there was smoke in the walls and the carpet, and the smell of smoke hung in the air for days and weeks. But rather than gaze on the mess in a state of despair, my father took his sandpaper and sander and went to work to put those kitchen cabinets back into good shape again.

If you can see that much of what you have built in the past has already burned up, of course you should repent for building your works wrongly in the first place. But wallowing in unending remorse won’t help you make any changes in your life. Never forget that God is on your side and He is just as sorry about your losses as you are!

Today I urge you to grab hold of the Holy Spirit’s power and begin to rebuild your works — and build them correctly this time. There is nothing you can do about the past except repent for what you did wrong. However, you can do something about the present and the future! Make the decision that from this moment onward, you are going to build your works right. I know that you don’t want to show up in Heaven with only the smell of smoke to show for your life. So ask the Holy Spirit to help you begin building works that will survive every test and bring a testimony of Jesus for eternity to the glory of God!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I thank You for speaking to my heart today about what I am building with my life. I must admit that a lot of what I’ve done has already gone up in smoke. Yes, I know that I’m saved and headed to Heaven one day when I die, but when I see You face to face, I want to have something to show for my life. I don’t want to have only the smell of smoke to show for the years You have given me here on planet earth. I repent and ask You to please forgive me for what I’ve built too hastily and wrongly in the past. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me build my works correctly this time!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare by faith that I am cautious in the way that I build my life, my works, my relationships, my business, my ministry, and my family. One day I will stand before Jesus, and on that day I will give account for my life. Because I am aware of that day, I live my life circumspectly and am very thoughtful and careful in the way I construct my life. Because the Holy Spirit guides me and I listen to Him, I build works that abide!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of past areas in your life that went up in a puff of smoke because you didn’t build them first in the right place? What were those areas of your life?
2. What did you learn from that experience? Did you just feel sorry and regretful that you lost so much, or did you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you from that experience?
3. Are there areas of your life that the Holy Spirit is trying to correct right now so that they will not go up in a puff of smoke later in life? Are you listening to the pleading of the Spirit? What areas are you most concerned about right now?

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
— 1 Corinthians 3:14

It is a fact that one day we will all stand before Jesus. On that day, each of us will give account for what we did with our lives. We’ll answer to Him for what we did, what we didn’t do, and what we should have done with our lives. On that day, there will be no hiding or twisting of facts. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Make no mistake — Jesus sees it all! One day He will deal with us, and we will give an account. So if we’re smart, we will ask and discover the answer to the question: On what basis will you and I be
rewarded when we get to Heaven?

Today I want us to look at a very important verse in which the apostle Paul answered that question for us. In First Corinthians 3:14, Paul wrote, “If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

Notice that Paul said, “If any man’s work abide….” What does the word “abide” mean? It comes from the Greek word meno, which means to stay, to remain, to continue, or to permanently abide. It gives the idea of something that lasts, remains, persists, or endures. It speaks of something that has lasting power. Implied in this word “abide” is the idea that tests will come in life that will try our works.

It is just a fact that tests come in life. Many wrongly assume that God is the source of all such tests, but I assure you that life by itself will send many tests your way. Your relationships, your job, your finances — all of these will be tested along the path of life, and God’s participation is not needed to make these tests happen. They are just part of the package of life. But in addition to this, the devil will try to test your works. If he can find a way to do it, the enemy will pry his way into as many of your affairs as possible. He would love to set fire to your relationships, your job, your finances, or anything else that you hold dear.

So be assured that between life and the devil, you will encounter fiery tests in the course of your life. I’m not prophesying bad news to you; rather, I’m endeavoring to equip you to build your life right so you can withstand every test, regardless of its source. If you have built your works right, you and your works will pass the test. But if you have built works made of wood, hay, or stubble (see 1 Corinthians 3:12), one of these tests will ignite them like a match set to hay!

The good news is that even if your works fail and are consumed before your eyes, underneath you is a foundation that is immovable! In First Corinthians 3:11, Paul said, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is your Foundation! As we saw in yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, the word “foundation” in this verse is from the Greek word themelios. It is a compound of the words lithos, the Greek word for stone, and the word tithemi, which means to lay something down, like the laying of a foundation. This describes a foundation set in stone and thus a foundation that is strong, stable, and enduring. Even if everything else burns, your foundation will remain intact!

But who wants to lose everything in the end? There will be no special rewards for works that burn! In fact, Paul says we will only be rewarded for works that “abide.” If only works that survive will merit a reward, we must be very careful in the way we build our works.

So let me ask you: How are you building your life, your relationships, your children, your job, your ministry, and so on? Paul says, “If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon….” The words “built thereupon” are from the Greek word epoikodomeo, which is a compound of the words epi and oikodomeo. The word epi means upon, and the word oikodomeo is a word borrowed from the world of construction. It means to build or to construct. When these two words are compounded as in this verse, the new word means to build on top of something.

The apostle Paul was alerting us to the fact that once the foundation of Jesus Christ is laid in our lives, it is our responsibility to build on top of that foundation. This foundation cannot be improved upon, but what is built on top of it depends on us. We can build marvelous structures that endure the test of time, or we can build shacks that crumble and eventually go up in a puff of smoke. What is built on top of the foundation depends on us.

When the fires of life come — and they will come — those fires will reveal the quality of what we have built. Works that were built wrong will burn, and works that were built right will endure. And Paul assured us that we will be rewarded only for the works that abide. Man measures man’s success by activity and earthly achievement, but God measures success by how well we built our works and by the longevity of our works. As impressive as works may be at the moment, if they don’t pass the test of time, they will not merit a reward. That is why the Bible declares, “If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

The words “shall receive” point to a future moment when each of us will stand before Jesus. At that moment, the books will be opened, and Jesus will carefully examine our lives. He will look to see if our works survived or if they failed in the fires of life. By looking at His ledger, He will know if we built our lives thoughtfully in a manner that brought honor to His name or if we built shacks on top of the glorious foundation He established under us through the riches of our spiritual inheritance in Him.

If our works were built right and endured the tests of life, Paul says we will receive a “reward.” The word “reward” is the Greek word misthos, an old Greek word that denotes pay, salary, or reward. In other words, Jesus will make sure you are well-compensated and rewarded for all of your works that were built right! When you stand before Him and He sees that your life and works survived every test, you will receive full remuneration for every sacrifice you made. Because you built your life and works correctly, you’ll get a bonus that will last for all of eternity!

This verse could be taken to mean:

“Every person is set on a rock-solid foundation, but what he builds on top of it is his responsibility. If he has constructed his life and works so well that they remain after all the fires of life have come and gone, this is what will merit him a reward in the future.”

What a shocking insight this is! It means that as important as we think our activities are, God’s measuring stick by which He determines rewards is not determined by how busy or active we are in life. His measuring stick is how well we accomplished our activities according to His instruction and whether or not our actions were built to survive the fires of life. Why would God reward us for anything we built that ultimately went up in a puff of smoke because of our shoddy workmanship or because our building materials were mixed with wrong motives and “good ideas” that were not “God’s ideas”? He is looking for obedience, excellence, permanence, and durability. These are the qualities that give Him glory.

Take a moment to look at your life today. What can you ascertain about your future reward based on the character of your actions? Have you built your life and works in a way that gives glory to Jesus? Jesus Christ is your glorious Foundation, but what have you built on top of that foundation? Have you constructed something marvelous that honors Him and gives Him glory, or have you built your life and works so fast and cheap that they can’t endure the many tests of life?

Since we will be rewarded only for what “abides,” we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us take an honest look at our lives to see what has been built right and what has been built wrong. It’s never too late to start doing it right. If you’ve built your life and works on such a solid foundation that it can pass any test, then rejoice! But if you know that your works aren’t built to survive, now is the time for you to let the Spirit of God help you start all over again!

If your works have already burned, this is very regretful. But the good news is your foundation is still in place. The foundation of Jesus Christ in your life is immovable! Because you still have Him as your Foundation in your life, with God’s help you can start building your life and works again. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, and He’ll show you how to build better this time!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for speaking to me today through what I just read. Now I understand that You are looking for excellence, permanence, and durability in my life. Forgive me for thinking that You would reward me only for being active and busy. Now I understand that You want quality from my life, not just quantity. You are looking for more than a lot of works – You are looking for works that remain! From this moment onward, I ask You to help me constantly take an honest appraisal of what I am doing and what I am building to make sure that I am investing myself wisely into works that will endure the tests of life. I want You to be pleased the day I look into Your eyes, so I am asking You to help me carefully measure my works and to make sure that I am living and building my life in a way that will merit a reward.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that the Holy Spirit is helping me to build my life and works so strong that they will resist any test that comes in life. I am living by the Word of God, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and obeying God’s commands. As I walk in obedience to the Word of God and build my life on this solid foundation, I can rest assured that what I am building will pass the test of time. I am committed to living a life of excellence, to building my life for permanence, and to bringing glory to the name of Jesus Christ in all that I do.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. As you look at your life, can you see areas of your life that because you built too quickly and too cheaply, they therefore didn’t last very long? What were those areas, and what did you learn from these experiences?
2. As you look forward to the rest of your life, how are you constructing your life and works right now? What steps and actions are you taking now that are different from what you did in the past to assure that your works will abide?
3. If you saw someone else building their works in a way that wouldn’t resist a fiery test, what would you tell them to do differently in order to prevent a painful loss? Can you think of such a person that you know right now? Pray that you or someone else will have an opportunity to speak the truth to them in order to help them avoid a catastrophe later in life.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11

In the late 1990s, our ministry set out to construct a large church building for our congregation in Riga, Latvia. One of the most important steps in this complex process was creating a foundation that could support the church building, and since the planned structure was massive, the foundation would have to be immense. This also meant it would be very expensive!

The land that our ministry had purchased for this church building was ideal in terms of its location, but the ground itself was composed of peat moss! Peat moss is a beautiful, rich, dark soil, but structurally, it is very unsound. In fact, if we had built on top of it, our building would have sunk down into the soil! So before we could start building our foundation, bulldozers had to come and remove that rich, dark soil.

Day after day, I watched as the crew dug deeper and deeper, trying to find hard ground beneath all that peat moss — until at long last they found hard soil 12 feet deep in the earth! When it was all said and done, 12 feet of peat moss had to be removed from an area the size of a football field. Every day I went to the site to watch as dump trucks loaded with rich, dark peat moss drove away to dump that soil into the river!

When the huge depression for the foundation was finally dug, I climbed down into it and walked from one end to the other. I was so proud of that big hole in the ground! It alone had cost more money than any other project I had ever taken on in my life. However, once the soil was excavated, it was then time to fill the hole with copious amounts of sand and gravel so the concrete foundation could be poured.

Over the course of the next few months, the same dump trucks that had previously carried soil away returned to pour layers upon layers of sand and gravel into that big, expensive hole. Before long, that hole was history! By the time the hole was refilled with rock and sand, our church building had already cost a fortune!

The next step was to build the foundation for our church building. The workers built a wood frame around the perimeter of the building site and then laid steel to reinforce the concrete once it was poured. Once the frame was secure, the concrete trucks arrived and began pouring concrete. That was such an exciting day!

For weeks cement trucks churned sand, water, and cement into concrete, and the workers poured it onto the site. Because there wasn’t a lot of sophisticated construction equipment in the former USSR at that time, everything had to be done by hand. The newly poured concrete had to be carefully smoothed by hand before it dried, and the laborers worked quickly and efficiently to complete each new section before moving on to the next. Everyone involved worked meticulously with an observant eye to ensure no mistakes were made in this important process.

Finally, the day came when all the trucks left, and I could examine our new foundation. At 306 feet long and 108 feet wide, that slab was huge! In fact, it was so big that it took several minutes for me to walk from one end to the other! Soon after, the crew arrived with their noisy grinding machines and literally ground the surface of that foundation until it was nearly as smooth as silk. Then it was time for the next phase — the construction of the building’s steel frame!

However, before they put that steel frame in place, I would drive out to the site early each morning, walk around the foundation, and look at it in wonder. I would think about how it began as an abandoned field of peat moss, and then through a lengthy, elaborate, expensive process, it became our rock-solid foundation.

I loved that foundation! When we started to build it, our ministry didn’t have the money needed to complete it. Day by day, I prayed and believed God for the money to dig that hole, buy the sand and rock, and purchase and pour the concrete. No one appreciated that foundation as much as I did because no one else knew what a miracle it was that we had been able to pay for it. That foundation had been built by faith. It was my miracle foundation!

When the church building was completed, it almost broke my heart when the carpet was laid over that foundation! So much work had gone into building that foundation, and the carpet would completely hide it. In fact, no one would ever even think of the foundation as they walked over it. Everyone who came into that building to worship God would never realize the fortune of sand, rock, and concrete that was beneath their feet, yet it was there whether or not they realized it. Although that foundation was no longer visible to anyone’s sight, it was essential to keeping that building standing strong for many years to come.

Think about it — how often do you walk into a gorgeous building and say, “Wow, what an awesome foundation this building has!” NEVER! When you walk into a new building, you see carpet, tile, wallpaper, light fixtures, and other beautiful cosmetic work, but you don’t see the foundation. You probably don’t even think about the foundation! However, if the foundation isn’t properly put in place, that building won’t last very long. The longevity of the whole building depends on the foundation.

Building a foundation is a hard, elaborate, lengthy, expensive process, but it is extremely important. In First Corinthians 3:11, the apostle Paul wrote about the spiritual foundation he had laid in the church of Corinth. He said, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The word “foundation” that Paul used in this verse is the Greek word themelios, a compound of the words lithos and tithemi. The word lithos is Greek for stone, and tithemi means to lay something down. When these words are compounded, they form the word themelios, which describes a foundation set in stone that is strong, stable, and enduring.

In addition to describing a physical foundation, the word themelios was also used metaphorically to denote the laying of a moral, theological, or educational foundation in a person’s life. These figurative foundations, just like an actual physical foundation of a building, are all built with enormous effort, intense concentration, and great expense.

When the apostle Paul first entered Corinth, the city was utterly consumed with idolatry and heathenism. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that Corinth was one of the most wicked, perverted cities on the face of the earth at that time. Therefore, for Paul to establish a church in that evil environment, he had to push like a spiritual bulldozer in the Spirit to shove those demonic powers out of the way. Once the spiritual rubbish had been cleared from his path, he then preached the Word in order to establish a firm foundation under the feet of these newly saved Corinthians. Paul’s enormous effort and intense focus produced a foundation under them that would withstand any attack of the enemy — including horrific persecution — and would last for generations!

Whenever Paul left a congregation to establish a church in a new region, a new pastor would follow in his stead to build on top of his work. However, every spiritual foundation that the apostle set beneath a church was rock-solid and needed no improvements. That is why he confidently stated to the Corinthians, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Because of Paul’s hard work, the church in Corinth was set on a firm spiritual foundation that enabled it to become one of the most influential congregations of the Early Church. Although other spiritual leaders followed Paul and contributed their part, a large part of the fruit produced in the Corinthian church can be directly attributed to the talents, energy, and gifts Paul used to establish the foundation for that congregation.

With this in mind, first take a moment to evaluate your own spiritual foundation with the help of the Holy Spirit. Are there any gaps that need to be filled in? Are there “swampy” areas in your mindsets and beliefs that need to be dug out and filled in with solid, Word-based soil? Ask the Lord for wisdom, and the Spirit of God will be faithful to give you all that you need to make sure your foundation is deep, wide, and bedrock-solid so you can build your life high and wide and strong in Him!

Then as you reflect on your life, see if you can think of a person or people who helped build a godly foundation in your life, such as a family member, a friend, a teacher, or a pastor. At the time these individuals were pouring themselves into your life, you might not have even realized the significance of their actions. However, as you look back on all they did, aren’t you grateful for the time and energy they invested in you in order to build a firm foundation in your life?

When I think back on all the people Denise and I have poured ourselves into over the years, it makes me realize how much it means to us when they come back to say thank you for what we did for them. Those expressions of thanks mean so much! Although it is not demanded or expected, it is a wonderful reward to hear that we have touched people’s lives and that our actions helped them get established on a firm foundation.

Have you taken time to thank people for the sacrifices they made to do this very thing for you? For those who invested themselves in you, I recommend that you take time to do something special to express your heartfelt thanksgiving for how they helped you in a pivotal moment of your life.

Never forget that the longevity of a building greatly depends on the foundation. Although laying a spiritual foundation is a hard, elaborate, lengthy process that can come at great cost, it is nevertheless extremely important. If a godly foundation is laid correctly, a person’s life will be well supported, and he will be able to pass the test of time. On the other hand, if a foundation under a person’s life is built too hastily or on shifting soil, that person will not have a firm footing as he proceeds forward in his spiritual walk.

As a closing thought, I encourage you to remember Jesus’ exhortation: “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). This means that you should actively seek to build up the spiritual foundation of other people, just as others took the time to help strengthen your foundation. Do everything you can to help build strong foundations in the lives of those around you, even as you ensure that your own foundation is built strong and sure to hold the full weight of all that God has destined you to be!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I want to thank You for loving me so much that You placed people in my life to help build a solid foundation underneath me. Because of what they invested in me, my life is set on a firm foundation. I am so thankful for everything that was graciously done on my behalf! Please help me fortify my own foundation in every area that might need shoring up or strengthening. And I ask that You open my eyes to people around me who need the same kindness and care shown to them. Your Word says “freely ye have received, freely give,” so I know I have a responsibility to give of myself as others gave to me. I want to be a positive influence in someone else’s life, so I ask You, Holy Spirit, to show me how to be the same kind of blessing that others have been to me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I have a strong foundation in God, firmly based on the truth of His Word. And I allow Him to use me to positively influence other people’s lives. I have gifts, talents, abilities, and experience that will help put others on a firm foundation for life. Rather than keep those gifts, talents, abilities and life experiences to myself, I allow God to use these to help other people get started on a firm foundation. Because I allow the Holy Spirit to use me, I am a great blessing to people who are around me. God works through me, and other people’s lives are benefited because I am willing to invest myself in them and in their future.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Who helped establish a foundation underneath your life? As you look back on your life and recall all that those individuals did to help you in your life and career, are you deeply thankful for their great investment of time and energy to ensure that your life or career was established on a firm foundation?
2. Have you taken time to thank those people for the sacrifices they made for you? I recommend that you take a few minutes today to write them, to call them, or to do something special to express a heartfelt thanksgiving for what they invested in you at a pivotal moment in life!
3. Who are you investing yourself in today? If God cared enough for you to send a person into your life that would help you get a firm footing in life, then don’t you think it is right that you should do this for someone else? Who are you helping in life?

…Take heed that no man deceive you.
— Matthew 24:4

For those who have a listening ear to the Spirit of God, it is clear that we have entered into the very last part of the last days. As a result, recent decades have brought us face to face with difficult issues, whether we wanted to be confronted with them or not. According to Bible prophecy, things are only going to get more intense as the days pass, because we are living at the end of the age when Jesus, Paul, and Peter all prophesied that society as a whole would be deceived on a massive scale.

Jesus’ disciples had specifically asked Him, “…What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). In response to that specific question, Jesus identified a list of exact signs that would indicate the very end of the age and His imminent return. Jesus gave many signs, but the first sign Jesus told them about contained a clear warning of a wide-scale deception that would emerge in the last part of the last days — and the need for people to prepare and guard against it. Jesus said, “…Take heed that no man deceive you” (v. 4).

In the original Greek, the words “take heed” were intended to jar and jolt the disciples to get their attention. As they perked up to really listen to what Jesus was telling them, they heard Him warn that as the present age came to a conclusion, an unprecedented deception would attempt to encompass every part of society.

In Matthew 24:4, the word “deceive” is used to depict this period when it will look as if delusion is taking over the world. It is the Greek word planao, which means to lead astray or to wander off course. This word “deceive” could depict a single individual who has wandered far off course, or it could describe a whole nation or nations that have morally veered from the position once held to be true.

Planao depicts a person (or nation) who, although once established on solid ground, is now morally drifting and teetering on the edge of a crooked, dangerous path. This individual has lost his bearings and has drifted off-track. He had already departed, or was in the process of departing, from what he once morally believed. He has begun going cross-grain against all that was once a part of his belief system.

In the years that lapsed between the Old and New Testaments, this same word “deceive” was often used to forecast a wide-scale deception that would one day envelope the earth. It was believed by scholars of that time that this deception would be a precursor to the glorious coming of the Messiah. Furthermore, it was widely held that a deception of this order could occur only as a result of the activity of evil spirits that would work intensely in the earth at the very end of the age. Scholars believed these dark powers would lead the world into deception en masse.

The apostle Paul also confirmed this long-forecasted deception. In Second Thessalonians 2, he described distinct events that would occur on the planet at the very end of the age and continue with greater aggression and intensity. He stated that the world’s population would become so ensnared in deception that they would be controlled by a strong “delusion” (v. 11). The word “delusion” in Greek is plane, a form of planao, the same word used in Matthew 24:4. However, in Second Thessalonians 2:11, the Greek word was translated “delusion” instead of “deception.” But the word planao nonetheless depicts a culture that has strayed so far that it has become beguiled, bewitched, duped, and seduced into believing a lie in place of the truth.

In Second Thessalonians 2:11, the Holy Spirit prophesied through Paul that society in the last days will become supernaturally hoodwinked — that is, it will be ensnared by an unparalleled period of deception on every front. This period of deceitfulness will be so intense that people will believe what is false over what is obviously true, even denying facts and truths that are common sense and that nature itself teaches (see Romans 1:20). This era of worldwide falsehood and deception will occur at the very end of this age and will continue into the time of the Great Tribulation. It will mark a time when wrong belief and delusion will pervade every realm of society. This is the clear teaching of prophetic Scripture about developments that will occur at the conclusion of this age.

Just look at the world around you today. Can you see deception at work? Watch the developments in the news. In a culture where moral standards bend so easily with the times, can you sense we have reached the tipping point where many are being deceived even now, not only in the United States, but also around the globe?

In Matthew 24:4, Jesus accurately foretold this worldwide deception on the earth in the last days and alerted His disciples that it would be a sign that His return was nigh. As we come closer and closer to the very last days of this age, we need to remember Christ’s forewarning of a season in time in which deception would grip the entire world. From all the signs around us, it appears that we are already there.

This is why it is so important that we keep our minds soaked with the Word of God, which renews us to right thinking in a world that has morally slipped in a wrong direction. It is imperative that we put the Word into our hearts — keeping it before our eyes and hearing it with our ears. It’s equally important to verbalize the truth of God’s Word to ourselves and to other believers, thus strengthening the truth in us and between us in a day when truth is slipping away.

Today I sense it’s my responsibility to ask you — what is your level of commitment to your Bible? Is it a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path (Psalm 119:105)? Is it the joy and rejoicing of your heart (Jeremiah 15:16)?

Rather than become victims of the age and spiritual casualties in the Body of Christ, we can hold our Bibles dearer and closer to our hearts and minds than ever before. We can reinforce ourselves against the days in which we live and the days that are forecast as yet to come. So let’s grab hold of the unalterable truths of God’s Word, dig our heels deep into it, and decide that we will stand firm on the truth that never changes, regardless of how society around us changes in the days to come!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I see that the world is slipping into falsehood and delusion on so many fronts, just as You said it would in Matthew 24:4,5. Long-held moral truths are being reconsidered and changed; truths of the Bible are being discounted and laid aside; and it seems that this process is occurring at a faster and faster pace as we come to the close of this age. I ask You to give me the inner courage to stand fast on the Word of God — to embrace it, dig my heels into it, and not sway from the unalterable truths of Scripture, even if the world around me is slipping away from it. Help me to embrace the Bible tighter than ever before and to keep my thoughts in agreement with Your will, regardless of what is happening in the world around me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare that I am committed to the eternal, unchangeable truths of God’s Word, regardless of what is happening in society all around me. The world may change what it believes and endorses, but not one word of God’s truth ever changes. I declare that I will wrap my arms around the Word of God, embrace it, and dig my heels into it. I will never surrender my conviction to the truths of the Bible. Holy Spirit, I need Your power and inner fortitude to do this, so I am asking You to reinforce me, along with my other close Christian friends, so we stand by the truth and refuse to be bullied into lowering our standards of believing the deception that is at work in the world in these last days!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you know any believers who have slipped from their firm commitment to the eternal truths taught by the Bible? What has been your response to this slipping away? Have you prayed for them? Have you lovingly spoken to them about the direction they are taking?
2. Can you think of ways that the moral foundation in the world is changing — and how society is trying to push these changing morals on everyone? What would be one example that stands out in your mind?
3. What is your personal response to all of this? This is a question that you will definitely have to face in the days to come, so what is your answer right now? Are you going to be bullied or hoodwinked to change your view along with the rest of the world, or are you going to stand on the truth that never changes?

Likewise, reckon ye also yourself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
— Romans 6:11

When I received my Social Security card as a young boy, my father said, “Rick, it’s time for you to get a job and learn what it’s like to earn a living.” Like other boys, I had mowed lawns to earn a little money on the side. I had even helped clean the church building on Saturdays for a whopping salary of 25 cents a week! But now that I was 12 years old, it was time for me to get a “real” job. Since I wasn’t old enough to drive, I had to look for someplace to work that was close enough for me to walk there every day, and the only possibility that fit that description was the local cemetery.

So at my father’s urging, I walked to the cemetery to ask the grounds director — a gruff, old man who had run the cemetery for years — if there was any job available for a 12-year-old boy. After interviewing me, he hired me as a lawn boy to mow the graves, edge the tombstones, oversee the flowerbeds, and removed wilted flowers from the graves. Every weekday after school, I walked down the street and through the huge arched entry to the cemetery, pulled the giant industrial lawnmower out of the shed, and went to work mowing graves or trimming the grass that grew up around the tombstones.

Thus, for my first fully paid job — every day after school, five days a week — I found myself working among the dead. And in all the time I worked there, I can’t recall a single instance when I discovered a corpse that had crawled out of his grave because he was tired of being dead! Once the person was dead, it was permanent. When goodbyes were spoken at gravesite rites, they were always final farewells, with everyone present being well aware that the person would never be seen alive again.

I’ve often thought of that when reading Romans 6:11, which says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The word “reckon” is the Greek word logidzomai, and in this verse, it means to count a deed already done; hence, it simply means that something is reckoned to be so or to be a fact. Thus, the verse carries the idea, “Consider yourself to already be dead to sin — a deed that has already been accomplished, a fact that has already been established, which simply needs your affirmation and recognition.” This is important because it tells us that in the mind of God, whoever you were in the past no longer has any claim to who you are now in Christ. Sin and its stimulating power has been slain by the power of the Cross. In Christ, that old person is absolutely dead.

The word “dead” in Romans 6:11 is the Greek word nekros, which describes a corpse just as real as any corpse in a morgue or a dead body being buried in a cemetery. Its life is gone, and it is nothing more than a hull. Nothing can resuscitate it; no one can breathe life back into it; and there is nothing that can stimulate it back into action again, because it’s dead and its life has been permanently terminated. Hence, this word “dead,” the Greek word nekros, pictures a body that is permanently disconnected to life. Making this even stronger is the fact that Paul said we are dead “indeed” unto sin. The word “indeed” means unquestionably, undeniably, or as a matter of fact. Paul declares this to be an immitigable truth!

Paul continued that we are “dead indeed unto sin.” The word “sin” describes our identities and activities that existed before we surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It involves the sinful nature we were born with, including all of its actions and behaviors that were contrary to God (see Colossians 1:21).

But in Christ, all of “that” has been made dead. In God’s mind, this is not a mere theoretical death. When we came into Christ, God deemed that old identity dead and powerless over us. Now in Him, there is a permanent disconnection to the old person we used to be and to the things we once did. Christ rendered the old man dead and gave us new life!

That is why Paul went on to say, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” My friend, you are not a resuscitated, newly improved version of the person you used to be. That old man is dead, buried, and permanently gone. Who you are right now in Christ is completely brand-new!

So if those old things from your past or former ways of thinking attempt to express themselves again, speak to those voices and remind them that they have lost their power over your life. If they try to wake up and act like they have still have life, your task is to reckon them lifeless — that is, keep them buried, “six feet under,” locked away in a casket that is covered with the grace of God. Never — not for a second — allow your old memories to tell you they have the right to live. Christ has rendered them powerless, and you never have to return to who you were or to what you did.

So remember —
Romans 6:11 could actually be interpreted:

“Consider yourself to already be dead to sin. It’s a deed that has already been accomplished and a fact that has already been established and simply needs your affirmation and recognition.”

Don’t argue with what the Holy Spirit is teaching you about this glorious truth. Throw your arms open, accept it, declare it, and walk free from those things that Christ has utterly and permanently disconnected from you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I sincerely ask You to help me embrace the truth that I’ve been set free from the past and from past behaviors. I am so thankful that Jesus has become the Lord of my life and that He has rendered my old personality, my old character, my old life, to be terminated. I likewise thank You that Christ didn’t just slay my old man, but He has given me a new identity in Christ! Today I declare that I will step forward to embrace who Christ has made me to be and that I am free!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare that the past has no power over me. In Christ, I have been made free from the power of sin and its impulses to do wrong. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death; therefore, sin shall not have any dominion over me. I reckon the fleshly nature dead. Therefore, I refuse to allow its impulses to find expression through my body. If the past tries to raise its voice and speak to me, calling out to beckon me to let it assert itself, I will silence it forcefully and vocally by declaring my allegiance to obey Romans 6:11. Christ has set me free, and I declare that I am free indeed! My freedom is not a feeling — it is a reality! I embrace and enforce the truth of the liberty Jesus died to provide for me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever really deeply embraced the fact that Christ has liberated you completely from who you used to be? If you really believed that you were free from your past identity and old behaviors, how would that belief affect the way you are living right now?
2. Do you know any individuals who have recently come to the Lord, but they do not understand that they are new creatures in Christ? Have you taken the time to help them understand that Christ no longer recognizes who they used to be and that they are truly new in Jesus? If you were in their place, wouldn’t you be grateful if someone took the time to explain that Good News to you?

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
— Ephesians 1:7

My father’s father, who is known to me as Grandpa Renner, immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1927. When he left Germany, he left everything behind — his family, his history, and literally any knowledge of his past.

As an immigrant in 1927, Grandpa worked hard to make a new life as a good, godly man. But his previous life in Germany was a subject that was not discussed. Even my father didn’t know much about his father’s previous life in Germany, as it was considered an off-limit conversation. It seemed there was something about his past that he did not want known.

Approximately ten years after Grandpa and Grandma Renner passed away, an elderly friend of Grandma Renner called my mother and said, “I want to tell you something about Mr. Renner that you have a right to know. It’s something confidential that no one has ever told any of you about his life in Germany before he came to America. Please meet me, so I can tell you something secret that you need to know.”

But before my mother could meet this elderly friend of the family, this friend unexpectedly passed away — and when she died, she took to the grave whatever it was that she knew and wanted to tell my mother about my Grandpa Renner. Now many years have passed, and I still know almost nothing of the history of our Renner ancestors or what happened in my grandfather’s previous life in Germany.

Over the years, I’ve wondered what it was about my grandfather’s past that he so meticulously hid. I even tried to unearth information about his life in Germany. But no matter how hard I tried to find information about a “secret” that may have occurred in his earlier life, this information is simply not available. I even hired genealogists who could provide me with legal information from Germany, but their efforts didn’t yield even one clue. Whatever the big secret was — and for whatever reason my Grandpa refused to acknowledge his past — it is something that my family will never know. The last possible link to that knowledge was Grandma Renner’s friend who took that secret information with her to the grave. When her grave was closed, the case was closed forever.

After years of frustration in trying to dig up whatever I could about our family’s secret past and hitting wall after wall, I realized one day that God didn’t intend for us to know that hidden information from the past. Why should I be seeking it out, anyway, since Grandpa didn’t want us to know it? Besides, he had become a blood-cleansed believer, and God didn’t hold it against him, anyway, whatever “it” may have been!

Jesus’ blood utterly wipes away the past. Whatever we did before Christ is buried by God forever. As far as God is concerned, the past is irretrievably gone and forgotten!

In Ephesians 1:7, the apostle Paul stated this glorious truth of forgiveness when he wrote, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” The word “forgive” is the Greek word aphiemi, which means to permanently dismiss, to liberate completely, to discharge, to send away, or to release. It was used in New Testament times to mean to cancel a debt or to release someone from an obligation of a contract, a commitment, or a promise. It means to forfeit any right to hold a person captive to a previous commitment or a wrong he has committed.

So when Paul used this word in Ephesians 1:7 to describe the forgiveness of sins, he was saying that God has permanently dismissed our past sins from us. We are liberated completely from them. He has discharged them from us; He has sent them away; and He has released us from them. The debt we once owed due to past transgressions is canceled, and God has freed us from the guilt of those previous actions. Because the blood of Jesus was shed for the payment of our sin, God has forfeited any right to hold us captive for that which we have already received forgiveness.

Isn’t this what we’re told in Psalm 103:12? It says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

If God said He removed our sins from us as far as the north is from the south, we would eventually meet our sins again, because there is a north pole and a south pole. However, if you go east and you never change direction, you’ll never meet west because you’ll always be going east. Likewise, if you travel west and never change direction, you’ll never meet east because you’ll always be traveling west. East never meets west, and west never meets east — and that’s how far God has removed our sins from us! He has removed your past sins from you forever. In fact, Micah 7:19 declares that once God has dealt with your sins, He throws them into a sea of forgetfulness.

God has put your sins behind His back forever, never to look at them again. He has chosen to release you from those sins completely — as if you never did it. God doesn’t have a poor memory. He could remember if He chose to, but He has chosen to never remember them again. He has thrown them into the depths of the sea, where He will never retrieve them to bring them up to you again.

The “sea of forgetfulness” is clearly where Grandpa Renner’s past ended up. Whatever it was that he wanted forgotten, it was irretrievably removed from memory and from any existing records. And finally I came to understand the power of redemption reflected in our inability to find out anything about my grandfather’s past. If God had put it away, I needed to put it away, too, just as I would want my own past regrets put away and forgotten. So I chose to close the book on that question about Grandpa’s secret past and to never try to reopen it again.

What about you? Since you are in Christ and therefore have received forgiveness from God by the shed blood of Jesus, why do you keep dragging up your past again and again, as if God were reminding you of it? If He has placed your past actions into the sea of forgetfulness, shouldn’t you leave all that past mess where He has left it? Why don’t you make the decision today to leave your past messes in the depths of the sea and allow yourself to be released from them once and for all by the power in the blood of Jesus? That is exactly what God wants you to do!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord Jesus, words fail to express the depth of my gratitude for Your precious blood and for the price You willingly and completely paid to cancel all the debt from my past sin and actions. Your grace toward me is more than I can comprehend, but today I must stop to say THANK YOU for displaying Your amazing grace toward me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am completely forgiven. God has liberated me completely, discharged, sent away, and released me from all of my sin, which He has forgiven. By the blood of Jesus, my debt has been cancelled and I have been released from it. Neither the devil, others, nor I have the right to hold me captive to a previous wrong. I am totally and completely forgiven!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you beat yourself up over things you said or did in the past? What good has it profited you to bring up a sad reminder over and over again?
2. Consider what would change in your life if you chose to accept total forgiveness and walk away from your past, to never bring it up again. How would this type of freedom affect the way you think and the way you are living?
3. Have you ever thought about how far the east is from the west and what that tells you about how far God has removed your sins from you?

…take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
— Luke 12:11,12

In Moscow stands the Kremlin — an architectural wonder that is simply breathtaking in terms of beauty. Within this great walled city are palaces, ancient churches, governmental buildings, and the State Armory Museum, a fabulous structure that holds treasures, crowns, diamonds, carriages, and thrones of the Russian state. One throne in particular has captured my attention every time I visit the Armory. It is a gigantic, double-seated throne with a strange opening just behind the seat to the right side.

In 1676, Tsar Alexis Romanov died, leaving his sickly son, Ivan, to inherit the throne. As a result of a number of political manipulations, it was decided that Ivan would be proclaimed Tsar jointly with his ten-year-old brother, Peter. For a brief period of time, both brothers ruled Russia, sitting together on the gigantic, double-seated throne that is now on display in the Armory. Young Ivan sat on the left side of the throne, and his brother Peter sat on the seat to the right. Eventually Ivan proved to be too physically and mentally feeble to rule, so he resigned his position. His brother Peter remained as Tsar and ruled Russia until his death in 1725. Today he is respectfully referred to as Peter the Great because of the great accomplishments and lasting impressions he made during his reign.

But why was there an opening behind the seat where Peter sat upon the throne? That opening was made so Peter’s sister, Sophia, could sit behind the young Tsar and privately provide him with correct responses to questions and comments made to him by visiting dignitaries. As the young Tsar listened to his sister’s words spoken quietly to him through a veil, and as he in turn communicated what he heard to those who approached him, an impression was made that he was intellectually powerful, even at an early age. The truth was, young Peter was brilliant, but his sister, although unseen, was the real power behind the throne.

When I’ve visited the State Armory Museum and looked at that strange opening in the double-seated throne, I’ve pondered the words of Jesus in Luke 12:11,12. Jesus told His disciples what to do when they faced difficult circumstances in which they didn’t know what to say or how to respond: “…Take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

Notice Jesus said, “…Take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer….” That doesn’t mean Jesus was advocating mindlessness. Rather, He was saying that there is no need for us to be anxious or worried in those moments because the Holy Spirit will be the unseen Presence, advising us what to say.

It would be easy in the natural for us to feel fretful, uneasy, upset, or distraught in those moments of not knowing how to answer. That’s why it’s important to understand that the Greek word for “thought” in this verse is actually Jesus’ prohibition against our being fretful in such moments. We may not always know how to respond to every question put before us or every situation we face. But Jesus is telling us that we have no need to be ill at ease because His Spirit will teach us “in that hour” — that is, in our specific moment of need — exactly what we need to say.

The sister of Peter the Great was an invisible advisor to her brother as she sat behind the strange opening in that double-seated throne. But the Holy Spirit wants to be an infinitely more effective unseen Advisor to you. If you will allow Him to take that position in your life, and if you will determine to learn how to hear and trust His voice, the Holy Spirit will give you answers to the questions and situations you encounter that you’re unable to answer or solve on your own.

So open your heart to the Holy Spirit today, and receive Him as your personal Advisor. As you train your heart to hear what He’s saying to you more and more accurately, He will help you respond with His insight and wisdom to every situation you could ever face in this life!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit. I repent for the times I’ve allowed myself to become fretful and upset because I didn’t know what to do or say. Holy Spirit, I receive and give place to Your ministry as my personal, private, invisible Advisor. I allow You to take this position in my life, and I purpose in my heart to learn to hear and trust Your voice. Thank You for giving me answers to questions and situations that I would be unable to answer or to solve on my own.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that the Holy Spirit is my personal Counselor. In every situation of life, I listen to the voice of the Spirit. He speaks to my heart and mind, and He tells me precisely what I am to say and what I am to do. I am not helpless, confused, or caught off-guard because the Holy Spirit lives within me as my ever-present Helper. With Him inside me to guide me, I am never at a loss for wisdom in critical moments. He is my Helper, my Teacher, my Comforter, and my Advisor!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you recall a moment when you had no answer for a question being put before you — and then suddenly the Holy Spirit showed you what to say and what to do? When was that experience? Is it something you could share with others to encourage them in similar moments?
2. What questions or situations are you facing right now that you do not naturally know how to answer or how to solve? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to help you?

…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
— John 14:27

I’ll never forget the day waves of panic rolled through me as we were reconstructing a big building as a permanent home for our church in Moscow. Paying for the building had itself already required the most miraculous level of faith I had ever experienced. When we started the project, we estimated what it would cost to reconstruct the facility. However, we didn’t know in the beginning of the process that the floors and columns of the entire building would have to be reinforced to hold the weight of the balcony we were adding to the building.

When I learned of the additional costs associated with reinforcing the floors and columns, a sense of panic surged through my whole being. Alarm, dread, horror — all these words could describe the emotions that tried to grip my soul. Within seconds, I felt cold sweat and heat simultaneously flushing across my face, neck, ears, and upper chest. It felt like I had to somehow get hold of myself or I would fall to pieces.

There was one thing I knew in that moment: allowing panic to get hold of me was not going to change the situation! So I politely excused myself from the meeting where the facts and figures were being presented to me, and I took a walk by myself to catch my breath and bring my soul into submission before fearful emotions could wreak havoc with my peace.

As we proceeded to move forward on that building project, I had to face those same tumultuous emotions more than once. Taking a walk by myself to bring my soul into submission became a very familiar practice en route to completing that project. During those times, I learned to turn to Jesus’ words in John 14:27, where He said, “…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” These words proved to be of great comfort to me in those times when my soul was tempted to give way to fear and trepidation.

As I’m sure you personally know, there is perhaps nothing more tormenting than to go through your daily life with a troubled heart. It can make you wallow in tumultuous feelings of worry, inadequacy, or regret. It can tear you up emotionally and steal your joy. And when fear is added to the mix, it can escalate your troubled state to an even higher level of anxiety. That’s why it’s so important that you take Jesus’ words deep into your heart that you do not ever have to live with a troubled and fearful heart.

Jesus said, “…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The word “troubled” is the Greek word taresso, which is used in various places in the New Testament to mean to shake, to trouble, to disquiet, to unsettle, to perplex, to cause anxiety, or even to cause feelings of grief. It is the picture of someone feeling inwardly shaken, unsettled, confused, and upset. If you’ve felt that way, you know exactly I mean!

Often when these troubling emotions begin to work in the soul, they open the door to other negative emotions and eventually pull you over into the realm of fear. That’s why it is so important to bring the soul into submission before this happens. This is precisely why Jesus continued to say, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The word “afraid” is from the word deilos, and depicts a gripping fear or dread that produces a shrinking back or cowardice. In essence, it saps your ability to look at the problem head-on and causes you to retreat into your own mode of self-preservation — which, in effect, is cowardice or the lack of courage to face what is before you.

This word deilos is the same Greek word that Paul used in Second Timothy 1:7 when he told Timothy, “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Timothy was facing real problems at the time Paul wrote this verse to him. His problems were not imaginary. Nevertheless, Paul didn’t want Timothy’s emotions to be in bondage to a spirit of fear that would turn him into a coward. Shrinking back from reality wouldn’t help the younger minister or anyone else involved in the situation. So Paul told Timothy that his being subject to a sense of fear or panic was not the will of God, for the Lord had given him spiritual equipment of an entirely different nature — a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind!

With this in mind, look again at the words of Jesus in John 14:27, which can convey this idea:

“Don’t let your heart be torn up by things that unsettle you, neither let it be taken with fear that causes you to shrink back into cowardice.”

How well Jesus understands what you and I are facing! We were not created to be torn up in our emotions! That’s why we must quickly learn to grab hold of our emotions and tell ourselves, I wasn’t made for this! I refuse to allow this sense of panic and fear to get hold of me! Jesus is Lord over every situation I commit to Him, and that includes the one I’m looking at right now!

In moments when fear has tried to grip me, and I admit it has happened multiple times over the years, I’ve learned to run to John 14:27 and to rehearse the words of Jesus to myself over and over again. Jesus knows us. He knew what we’d be facing in life, so He instructed us in advance on how to deal with it!

Allowing yourself to stay in a state of feeling troubled, upset, and fearful won’t help you in life. In fact, it will hinder you in running the race God has set before you! So take Jesus’ words very seriously and refuse to let your heart be troubled. Jesus wouldn’t tell you to do something you couldn’t do, so you can know that you are well able to make that choice!

Don’t allow yourself to yield to fear in any form. You have the spirit of power and love and a sound mind working in you. That means you are well able to grab hold of any negative emotions and pull them in line with God’s Word, even in a situation that challenges you to the core. You can just settle it for yourself today: You are not of those who shrink back (see Hebrews 10:39). No, you’re among those who bring their souls into submission to God’s Word and live as overcomers in this life!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I acknowledge that I’ve allowed myself to get into a troubled state of heart and soul. Circumstances have left me feeling shaken and upset, and I haven’t dealt with those feelings according to the Word. As a result, a door was opened to a spirit of fear that is now trying to call the shots in my life. I repent, because it is sin for me not to trust You, and I ask You to please forgive me for allowing these negative emotions to find a place to take up residence in my life. So now I open my heart for the Holy Spirit to infuse me with the power I need to take authority over the spirit of fear and tell it to leave me once and for all.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that my heart, mind, and emotions are not made to be a refuge for fear and intimidation to take up residence in me and torment me. I refuse to nurse these negative emotions any longer or to let them operate inside my soul! I have tolerated fear too long! I refuse to retreat into a toxic state of isolation and self-preservation. God has too many things for me to do in this life to waste a moment in torment and fear, so I’m moving forward by faith to defeat the enemy’s strategy against me today. I do it in the power of the Holy Spirit and with the name of Jesus!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of an experience when a spirit of fear tried to grab hold of you? What did you do to break its grip on your soul?
2. If you had a friend who was being torn up emotionally and mentally by a spirit of fear, what would you advise that friend to do? Have you taken this advice for yourself?
3. Do you know someone who is dealing with a troubled heart or being tormented by thoughts of fear right now? What should you do to help that person get victory over that situation?

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
— Colossians 3:2

When Denise and I attended the annual International Antique Exposition in Moscow, I was stunned by the vast amount of wealth that was on display. There were acres and acres of antique furniture, bronze and marble sculptures, marvelous gold-gilded clocks veneered in rich malachite, jewelry, paintings by world-class artists, and rare porcelain objects of all shapes and sizes. Denise and I walked down row after row and floor after floor of what seemed like an endless tour of rare treasures that were available for those with enough cash to purchase them. The brand-new, sparkling white Rolls Royce that sat at the main entry should have signaled what lay before us — but the extensive number of treasures on exhibition was simply more than we could have ever anticipated.

What was equally amazing was the number of people who seemed to have sufficient resources to take some of those treasures home with them. I stood back and watched the potential buyers in amazement. It was obvious that many of them were of the richer Russian upper class and knew what they were looking for and were obviously experts on the subject of rare art and treasures as they negotiated their purchases. It seemed like Denise and I were the only ones there just to roam as onlookers and enjoy an afternoon outing. But even though these objects were beyond our financial reach and we had no need of them, I could feel their lure reaching out to grab hold of me.

After strolling through acres of treasures, Denise and I took a seat on a padded bench to give our feet a break from the hard surface of the exhibition hall. As we sat there, I realized that I had pondered on these material objects too long. So I began to reflect on eternal treasures instead — those things that are in Heaven and that never fade with the passing of time. Specifically, my mind went to Colossians 3:1 and 2, which says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Based on this scriptural command, I knew it was time for me to make a deliberate decision to refocus my mind on eternal things.

We finished our afternoon stroll and returned home, where I opened my Greek New Testament to look up this passage in Colossians 3. When I turned to these verses in the Greek text, I discovered that the word “seek” in verse 1 is the Greek word zeteo. This word means to earnestly seek. It doesn’t depict a casual seeker, but rather one who makes an earnest inquiry for something so intense that it causes one to put his whole effort forward in search of it. So when Paul told us to “seek” those things that are above — namely, the things where Christ is — he was urging us to put forward our most earnest efforts. This is precisely what I had chosen to do that afternoon at the exhibition! I had chosen to refocus my thoughts from those material objects and to put my mind on “things above.”

Then in verse 2, Paul wrote, “Set your affection on things above.…” The words “set your affection” are a very poor translation of the Greek text, where Paul used the word phroneo. This word is derived from the Greek word phren — a word that describes one’s mind or intellect. As Paul used this word in Colossians 3:2, it could be interpreted as to focus one’s thoughts. Thus, it could be translated, “Fix your thoughts on things above…”; “Make the decision to focus on things above…”; or “Deliberately think on things above.…” It depicts a choice or a decision made with a person’s mind that is independent of his or her emotions.

Paul then plainly told us again that we are to put our focus on “…things above, not on things on the earth.” In Greek, the words “things above” is ta ano. In this case, ta means things, as in many things, and the Greek word ano means above, as opposed to the many things that are below. What multitude of things do you and I possess that are “above”? Well, from verse 1, we know first of all that Christ Himself is above, seated at the right hand of the Father. And as we focus our thoughts on Jesus, we are putting ourselves in remembrance of all He has provided for us in Him. Of course, there is a rich inheritance of blessings He has supplied for us to enjoy in this life on the earth, but Paul says there are many things above that we are to set our attention on! Today I want us to focus on this question: What are some of the “things above” we should set our thoughts on that will be ours to enjoy once we get to Heaven?

• A reunion with our family members, friends, and acquaintances who have preceded us (see Hebrews 12:1)
• Rewards earned as a result of our obedience (see 1 Corinthians 3:8; Revelation 22:12)
• No more tears, no death, no pain, no sickness, no past, no curse, no darkness, no night (see Revelation 21:4, 21:25; 22:3,5)
• Eternal life (see Romans 2:7)

There are so many eternal treasures that have been laid up for us in Jesus Christ that it is impossible to compile a complete list. Truly, piles upon piles of divine blessings and rewards “above” await us. There just isn’t enough time or space for any of us to make a list that encompasses all God has freely bestowed upon us through His Son Jesus!

That’s why “things below,” or on the earth, are low-level compared to the treasure trove of “things above” that God has provided us. When we are tempted to feel that we aren’t blessed or that we’ve suffered too much or that we lack what others possess, it’s time for us to obey Paul’s command to refocus our attention on eternal things and not on things on the earth. The word “on” in Greek is epi, which depicts something that is just sitting “on” the earth and is therefore movable and temporary, such as antiques and heirlooms that are passed from one generation to the next. No one takes these things with them when they die because they are all earth-connected.

With this in mind, Colossians 3:1,2 could be paraphrased:

“Since then you are raised together with Christ, earnestly and intensely seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Focus your mind on the many things that are above, and don’t get stuck in low-level thinking about temporary things here on the earth.”

Today I want to encourage you to refocus your thoughts — and not to depend on your emotions to do it. Your emotions aren’t needed for what I’m describing. Whether or not you feel like it, deliberately put your mind on things above — on all that God has prepared for you to share with Him in the eternity to come! If needed, go ahead and make a list. Do whatever you must do, but move your thoughts from low-level thinking to high-level thinking, and focus on those things above that really matter.

You really are the one who decides what you set your thoughts on. It’s up to you to maintain your focus on Jesus and the “things above” that He has waiting for you to enjoy. So today and every day, no matter what’s going on around you, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and your heart open to receive the victory and blessing He’s provided for you, both in this life and in the life to come!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for the many blessings laid up for me in Christ to partake of here on this earth. And many more blessings and rewards are waiting for me when I reach Heaven. Please forgive me for getting stuck in low-level thinking about all the things it seems I lack right now. Instead of focusing on what I don’t have right now here on earth, please help me reset my thoughts and begin focusing on things above.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that Heaven is loaded with spiritual blessings and treasures that are waiting for me! Only that which pertains to eternal life awaits me! There will be no more tears, sickness, pain, or death. So I choose to refocus my thoughts and I declare that I will not dwell on low-level thinking about the earthly possessions I do not have. And I will receive by faith and enjoy all the blessings God has for me here on earth as well. These are all just a taste of the treasure trove of blessings that are waiting for me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of some awards that await you in Heaven because of your obedience to do what God has asked you to do here on earth? Why not encourage yourself by making a list?
2. You will see again one day your loved ones, who preceded you to Heaven. In what way does that thought encourage you?
3. What treasures are yours as a child of God in this life? I encourage you to make a list, and then begin today to claim those treasures as yours in the Name of Jesus!