…Abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication….
— Acts 15:20

We must never forget that the devil is always on the prowl, waiting for us to drop our guard and fall asleep on the job so he can stealthily find an entrance into our lives. In our moments of lethargy and complacency, we are especially vulnerable. The enemy is constantly poised to exploit any perceivable weakness, and when he makes his move, it is often with devastating consequences. Therefore, we must perpetually remain on guard — diligent, wide-awake, and doing our part to protect ourselves from the evil lurking in the shadows.

Specifically, this means we must be vigilant about not exposing ourselves to environments that have spiritually negative consequences. An integral part of being vigilant is to stay away from places, events, and people that are detrimental to our spiritual lives.

For instance, this means:

The Bible makes it clear that it is our duty to avoid anything that is opposed to a life of holiness. By doing so, we fulfill our part in protecting ourselves from the evil in the world. This is our responsibility, and God expects us to fulfill it seriously.

Much like today, the early Church was literally surrounded on all sides by things that could easily lure new believers back into a life of sin. Pagan temples were one of the most prominent temptations in New Testament times, since these cult sanctuaries were central to life in the Roman Empire. Essentially functioning as “cultural centers,” temple grounds hosted numerous community events, including festivals, ceremonies, and even open marketplaces. However, these temples were also dark cesspools of demonic activity, idolatry, and fornication, which made it imperative for early believers to stay as far away from them as possible.

In Acts 15, we read that the early Church leadership convened in Jerusalem to discuss what to expect of new converts who abandoned paganism and came to Christ. After much deliberation, the council arrived at a decision, which Peter summarized in Acts 15:19,20: “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”

Peter announced new converts should “…abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication….” The word “abstain” in this verse is the Greek word apecho, which means to deliberately withdraw from; to stay away from; to put distance between oneself and something else; or to intentionally refrain. The word “pollutions” is a translation of the Greek word alisgema, which depicts something that is defiled. Part of the activities of idolatry included “fornication.” This is from the Greek word porneia, the Greek word that was used to describe any sexual activity outside the context of God-ordained marriage.

The rites of idolatry were often connected to immoral sexual acts, which God condemned. These rituals were lewd, indecent, obscene, vulgar, degenerate, and profane. Therefore, it was essential for new believers to distance themselves from the environments where these things occurred because it had the power to infect, sicken, and nullify them spiritually. This is exactly where the devil wanted them to be, knowing that if he could get believers into that old environment again, he could possibly drag them back into bondage, dilute their spiritual power, and negatively affect their witness.

You see, most believers had been saved out of that immoral pagan lifestyle, and to return to a blatantly pagan environment for a social event was flirting with temptation. Roaming about a pagan temple with all its spiritually poisonous activities could ultimately bring ruin into their lives. To be in that environment certainly was not being diligent to protect themselves against the evil that is in the world. Early believers needed to stay away from these dark environments at all costs — even if all their friends and neighbors went there. It just wasn’t the place for Christians to be if they intended to remain spiritually free.

The spiritual leadership in Jerusalem made the decision, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we all need to be careful about the places, events, and people we allow in our lives. Those who belong to Christ do not need to deliberately expose themselves to films that cause temptation, hang out in bars where there is a strong temptation to drink, or spend time with “loose” friends who have adopted a worldly view that Christ opposes.

Is today’s Sparkling Gem a wake-up call for you to be more vigilant about where you go, what you do, and whom you spend time with? If nothing else, let the Holy Spirit speak to you about walking in greater spiritual freedom and holiness.

My friend, there are places, events, and people that are spiritually detrimental to your future. Rather than put yourself in jeopardy by allowing these things in your life, it is safer to put distance between them and yourself.

Since the devil is on the prowl, it is essential always to remain on guard — diligent, wide-awake, and doing our part to protect ourselves from the evil that is in the world. This means putting distance between ourselves and any individual, activity, or atmosphere that could contribute to our spiritual demise.

So I ask you today — are you sensibly putting space between yourself and detrimental places, events, and people that aren’t healthy for you? That was God’s requirement 2,000 years ago — and it is still what the Holy Spirit requires of you today!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I ask You to reveal to me the places, events, or people I specifically need to avoid in order to stay spiritually strong. I want to be a witness to the freedom You have brought into my life. But if I am not strong enough to be around the former places and people and not be affected by them, I need the courage to say no to the invitations that would negatively affect me. Give me the wisdom to know those whom I can help influence and those whom I deliberately need to avoid. I know that the Holy Spirit has the answer, and He wants to help me make the right decisions. So, Holy Spirit, teach me how to be vigilant and sensible about my spiritual life, as this will affect everything about my future.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am vigilant and fully aware when it comes to my spiritual life. I know that the devil is on the prowl, looking for an entrance into my life. Therefore, I am very sensible about where I go, what I do, and whom I see. I guard my heart carefully because nothing is more important than my spiritual life. God expects me to put distance between myself and anything that will potentially cause negative spiritual ramifications in my life. I love Jesus more than I love anything else. Therefore, I have chosen to walk the straight and narrow path, surrounding myself only with people and activities that edify my spirit. I will build close fellowship only with those who are like-minded about following Jesus Christ in a spirit of holiness!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you know any believers who started out strong in their new walk with Jesus, but became sidetracked by being in the wrong places or surrounding themselves with people who had compromised themselves with the world?
  2. Are there any places, events, or people you need to rethink your relationship with after reading today’s Sparkling Gem? Are you influencing them to come closer to Jesus, or are they dragging you back into sin and defeat? If you are being negatively affected by those places, events, or people, is it possible that you need to put distance between yourself and those things?
  3. What steps do you need to take to make a break with those places, events, or people? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to give you a plan to start restructuring your time, such as where you go and with whom you spend your life? If you haven’t already begun asking for help in this area, why not ask today?

…To him that overcometh will I give…a new name….
— Revelation 2:17

Very often in ancient society, a person received a “new name” when he achieved a new status or advanced to a higher level of society. The bestowal of a new name normally accompanied a person’s elevation, ennoblement, or social promotion, and with it came rank, privilege, and, frequently, the right of inheritance. That new name marked a distinct change in an individual’s status, which could potentially impact his lineage for generations to come.

We see this many times in Scripture. The Bible records many accounts of God conferring new names upon believers when they underwent life-changing spiritual transformations. Take, for instance, the Old Testament examples of Abraham and Sarah. When God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, it marked a new beginning in his life — a spiritual advancement or elevation.

The name Abram means father, which reflected his status as the head of his household. However, when Abram entered into a covenant with God, God changed his name to Abraham, meaning a father of many nations. This new name memorialized their covenant together and reflected Abraham’s new, God-ordained status in life (see Genesis 17:4).

As further affirmation of His promise to Abraham, God also changed the name of Abraham’s wife from Sarai, which means quarrelsome, to Sarah, meaning princess. Genesis 17:15,16 records this event: “And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai, thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” The new names that God gave to Abraham and Sarah did not in itself change them. Rather, it reflected the change God was performing in them. It marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new life. Consider that Abraham was 99 years old when God gave him a new name, and Sarah was 90. If anyone’s life demonstrates that it’s never too late to change, it is the life of Abraham or Sarah.

We find another powerful example of God bestowing a new name in the story of Jacob. The name Jacob means supplanter, and it denoted the mischievousness of this man’s original character. In fact, when Jacob and his twin brother Esau were born, Jacob came out of the womb gripping Esau’s heel in his hand — demonstrating the intense competition that existed between the two brothers even while they were still in the womb. However, after Jacob’s encounter with the angel at Peniel, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.

Genesis 32:27 and 28 records: “And he [the angel] said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” The name Israel means one who is triumphant with God or one who prevails with God. Some scholars even translate it as God rules, God judges, or prince of God. Thus, it is clear that the new name, Israel, signified a moment of surrender in this man’s life and his character. Like Abraham and Sarah, the “new name” in itself didn’t change Jacob, but it marked the moment when one chapter permanently closed and a new chapter opened that would affect the entire history of mankind.

We can even see instances of new names that were bestowed upon individuals in the New Testament. First, there was Simon, whose name was changed to Peter after he had a revelation of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 16:18). The day Simon was given the new name Peter, which comes from the Greek word petra, for rock, marked a transformational moment in this disciple’s life. He is not remembered as Simon, but by his newly given name Peter.

We find a New Testament example in the story Saul of Tarsus. Prior to his conversion, Saul was an extremely arrogant man. To get a sense of how prideful he was before he came to Christ, we can look to his own words in Philippians 3:4, where he essentially stated that no one had more reason to boast in the natural than himself. However, at some point after his life-transforming experience with Jesus Christ, God changed his name from Saul to Paul, meaning small or humble. On the other side of his divine encounter on the road to Damascus, Saul was clothed with a new identity — and today we remember this apostle not as Saul of Tarsus, but by his new name Paul.

Then there is Joses — a Levite from Cyprus — who was an unknown believer until he gave a large financial contribution to the church in Jerusalem, which brought him to the attention of the apostles. They changed his name to Barnabas to reflect what he had become to them (see Acts 4:36,37). The name Barnabas meant encourager. The changing of Joses’ name didn’t change him, but it reflected a new status he had obtained as an “encouragement” to the apostles. Today he is not remembered as Joses of Cyprus, a name no one even recognizes, but by the new name bestowed upon him — Barnabas — a name that defined the gifts and calling God had placed on his life.

Each of the new names from these Old and New Testament examples marked new beginnings and profound changes of character in the lives of the individuals who received them. Likewise, we experienced a transformational shift in our lives when we surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus. Although our names might not have been legally changed, Jesus dramatically redefined our lives when we chose to follow Him — and we are not the same people we used to be!

Today as I wrote this Sparkling Gem, I asked my wife Denise, “If God gave you a new name to reflect who you are, what do you think your new name would be?” She reflected for a few moments and then answered, “If God gave me a new name, I think my name would be Redeemed!” What name do you think God would give you to describe who you are today in His eyes?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the transformational change You have worked in my life since I committed my life to Jesus. You have worked so many miracles in my life and changed me so much. I give you all the honor and glory for what you have done. When I think about how my life used to be and compare it to how my life is today, I cannot imagine living without You. Thank You for redeeming me, saving me from destruction, and giving me a new spiritual status in Your family!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I am totally different from how I used to be. Since I’ve committed myself wholly to Christ, He has worked miracles in my life and character. I thankfully confess that since I’ve belonged to Jesus, I’ve had multiple transformational moments in my life. The Holy Spirit is working inside me continuously — to change me and to take me to a higher dimension in every aspect of my life. If anyone needs to thank God for working miracles in his or her life, it’s certainly me! I thank You, Heavenly Father, for the dramatic changes that You have worked in me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of anyone else in the Old or New Testament who had a name change that reflected a transformational moment in their lives?
  2. If you were to receive a new name to describe who you are now, what do you think that name would be? What name do you think would describe you, your gifts, and your calling? What would you want that new name to reflect about you?
  3. Can you think of five names that God calls us in the Bible? For example, the Bible calls you beloved (see Philippians 2:12) and called (see Romans 1:6). What other words does God use in the Bible to denote who you are since that transformational moment when you surrendered your life to Christ?

Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Years ago I was invited to have lunch with a man who said he wanted to talk. As I sat with him, he began to tell me the many reasons why he had abandoned believing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. At first, I thought maybe he just needed someone to talk to about his doubts, but soon I realized this man was deeply bitter. I finally understood he had asked me to lunch in an attempt to dissuade me, and whoever else would listen, from believing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

As I listened to this man, I silently asked the Lord for wisdom to help him. I could tell from the man’s words that he had been disappointed in the past by leaders. Out of hurt, he dismissed them all as a bunch of Charismatic misfits. Like many have done in times of disappointment, rather than separate disappointing behavior from truth, he mixed the leaders and their poor behavior all into one big bag and then rejected the whole lot of them.

But taking this approach is illogical. It’s like someone saying, “You know, I ate food once and got food poisoning, so I’ve made the decision that food is bad and I’ll never eat food again.”

If you go without food, eventually you’ll die, so choosing to reject all food because of one bad experience would be a fatal decision. Maybe you need to be a little more selective in where you eat or what you eat, or perhaps you need to learn a little more about how to correctly prepare your food — but you cannot avoid food if you wish to keep on living.

Bad experiences surrounding false prophecies often have negative consequences, and regretfully do occur in the Christian community. But instead of throwing out our legitimate beliefs, as this man had done, we must obey the words of the apostle Paul in First Thessalonians 5:21. When he wrote to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul was speaking to Christians who felt very disappointed and confused as a result of individuals who had misused the gift of prophecy. Because the Thessalonian congregation was tired of this abuse, they were tempted to throw out the spiritual gift of prophecy altogether — no longer allowing it to operate in their church. So Paul wrote and told them, “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.”

As we saw in yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, Paul taught that we have a God-given responsibility to “prove” the prophetic words that are spoken over our lives. God doesn’t expect us to blindly accept every prophecy as from the Lord. But once we have determined that a word we received is legitimate and sound, we must “hold fast” to it because there is something we are to do with that word from the Lord. Paul was so convinced of the importance of authentic prophetic utterances that he urged Timothy to “war a good warfare” with the prophecies that had been spoken over his life (see 1 Timothy 1:18).

I think of words from the Lord that He has spoken to me over the years concerning our ministry. These words have been tested, proven, and shown to be legitimate. Denise and I have walked this walk long enough to be able to discern in our spirits the difference between a real prophetic utterance and a bogus prophetic utterance. And like Timothy, Denise and I have waged warfare with some of the prophetic words that have been spoken over our lives. Certainly prophetic utterances are not equal to the Bible, but they have been guideposts that have helped navigate our journey through good times and bad.

Yes, misguided words are given from time to time. But when prophetic words are spoken over our lives that are proven to be legitimate, we need to “hold fast” to them!

The words “hold fast” in First Thessalonians 5:21 are a translation of the Greek word katecho, which is a compound of the words kata and echo. The word kata means down, and the word echo means to hold or to embrace. When compounded, the new word means to hold firmly or to hold down lest the desired object slip away from you, or to take possession of a thing. It is the picture of figuratively wrapping one’s arms around an object and refusing to let it go. It clearly means if we don’t deliberately embrace these prophetic words and make them our own, they can slip away from us. Therefore, Paul urged us to hold sound prophetic words very tightly and to refuse to let them go.

Paul also specifically told us that we are to hold fast to that which is “good.” The word “good” is from the word kalos, which in this case, denotes something that is sound and in order. It’s been tested, proven, and shown to be authentic. It is therefore to be accepted, like a coin that has been tested and proven and is therefore worthy to be put into public circulation. It is attested, dependable, genuine, reliable, and true. This is the nature of a prophetic word to which God charges us to “hold fast.”

What words have been spoken over you that you know are legitimate words from the Lord? Has life tried to seize them away from you? In order for those words to come to fulfillment, it will require you to hold fast to them — because the devil and the cares of this life have a way of trying to steal the words God has spoken over your life. Just think of the Old Testament characters who received prophetic words, such as Abraham or Joseph. Imagine how determined they had to be to “hold fast” to the words they had received from the Lord in order to see their fulfillment!

Likewise, you must wrap your arms around those prophetic utterances spoken over your life that you know in your heart are legitimate. Just because a word birthed in Heaven is faithfully delivered to you does not mean it will automatically come to pass in your life. That word God has given you will more than likely test you — just as the word of the Lord tried Joseph until the time of its fulfillment (see Psalm 105:19). But that doesn’t matter when you’ve already decided you’re going to stay in faith until you see the manifestation of what the Lord has spoken to you. You just dig your heels in the ground, hold fast to that which is good, and refuse to ever let anything take it away from you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, I thank You for speaking clearly to me about my life. I confess that there have been times when I’ve been tempted, out of weakness and weariness, to let go of Your prophetic utterances over my life. Today I am encouraged to wrap my arms around those promises You made to me and to not let them go until I see their fulfillment. With the help of Your Spirit, I will prove all things and hold fast to that which is good!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I will do what God has told me to do. Many forces have tried to stop me, but the Word of God is working mightily in me, and it will accomplish God’s will in my life. I wrap my arms around those prophetic words that I have proven to be true, and I refuse to surrender to the negative forces that try to take them away from me. I will remain steady and on course until I see the manifestation of what God has spoken to me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of an authentic prophetic word that has been spoken over your life? When was it spoken over you? By whom? Where were you? What was your immediate response to it? How do you know that it was authentic?
  2. Did you find that you have had to hold tightly to keep hold of that word from the Lord for your life lest it slip away from you?
  3. What method did you use to test that word to ensure that it was worthy of acceptance and action in your life?

Prove all things….
— 1 Thessalonians 5:21

I once bought a violin that I was sure was an authentic Stradivarius violin. Of course, if it was real, it was worth several million dollars. Before I purchased it, I studied documents about how to recognize a real Stradivarius compared to a well-made copy. After convincing myself that I had found a real Stradivarius in a remote antique shop in Russia, I purchased it. But after an examination by a violin expert, it proved to be nothing more than a very old, fabulous fake. Only an experienced eye would have been able to discern that it wasn’t authentic. Today that fake Stradivarius hangs on the wall in one of my offices as a reminder that everything that looks real isn’t real and that it’s important not to eagerly believe everything we see and hear.

I share this example because someone in the church at Thessalonica claimed to possess the gift of prophecy, but it wasn’t the authentic gift of the Spirit. It was an imitation, but it so closely resembled the real gift of prophecy that people in the church had been affected by it. When Paul wrote First and Second Thessalonians, he addressed this issue. Someone was claiming to speak by the gift of prophecy — and whoever this person or this group of people were, they had apparently prophesied that Jesus had already secretly returned and that the Thessalonian believers had missed His return. Because of this error that Paul sought to correct, we now have the apostle’s teaching on the return of Jesus Christ, as recorded in First Thessalonians 4:15-18 and Second Thessalonians 2:1-17.

The church in Thessalonica had already suffered terribly due to persecution, so the hope of Jesus’ return was very precious to them. We are not sure who was upsetting them, but whoever the person or persons were, they must have been influential, because it seems many believers took their prophecies seriously that Jesus had already come and they had missed His return. The Thessalonian believers panicked, thinking they had missed Jesus’ return. The prophetic utterances must have closely resembled what a real prophetic message sounds like, because it seems the congregation as a whole took it very seriously.

This deeply upset the Thessalonian believers, as it would upset you if someone you respected convinced you that Jesus had secretly come and that you had missed it. When these believers finally figured out that Jesus hadn’t come yet, they were so distressed by these inaccurate prophecies that they were tempted to turn a deaf ear to all prophetic utterances. But closing their hearts to prophetic utterances would have been a wrong response. Even though they had been exploited by bogus prophecy, the value of genuine prophecy hadn’t changed. It was still a real gift from God that they needed. If they shut their hearts to it, it would have robbed them of fresh words from the Holy Spirit that were a part of their necessary supply from Heaven.

Many of us have been negatively affected by inaccurate prophecy at one time or another. But that doesn’t mean all prophecy is wrong or untrustworthy. Lots of things are used inaccurately in life. For example, a car can be driven in such a reckless manner that it results in a collision — but that doesn’t stop us from getting in our cars. It simply makes us more aware of our need to drive more carefully and responsibly. If we decided to never drive a car again because someone was once fatally wounded in a car accident, that would be an irrational response.

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he didn’t put a “ban” on all prophecies because of this negative prophetic experience; he simply told them to check their hearts regarding what they heard and to test prophetic utterances before they embraced them. He told them, “Prove all things…” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

The word “prove” is the Greek word dokimadzo, which means to approve after testing. In other words, don’t simply believe everything you hear. Test it before you accept it.

The word dokimadzo was used in various ways, but one significant way was to describe the process of testing coins to see if they were real or counterfeit. The counterfeit coins look very authentic — and there was such an abundance of counterfeit coins in circulation in ancient times that it became an accepted practice to test coins to determine if they were real or counterfeit. If tested and proven phony, they were rejected. Only if the coins were tested and proven authentic were they approved, pronounced good, recognized for use, and put into public circulation to be accepted for payment. That is where the word “prove” comes from that Paul used in First Thessalonians 5:21.

By using this word dokimadzo in the context of false prophecies that were being circulated among believers in the city of Thessalonica, Paul was urging these believers to treat every prophetic utterance with caution. He didn’t tell them to reject these utterances, but to test them.

As noted above, we need prophetic ministry, but we have a responsibility to test the content of the utterances spoken to us to ensure they originate from the heart of God. Just because someone says, “Thus saith the Lord,” does not mean it is a genuine prophetic utterance. It could just be the product of a person’s mind, given out of spiritual immaturity. Or in some cases, it could represent a conscious attempt to deceive, just as that fake Stradivarius I purchased was a deliberate attempt to copy something that was real. In both the natural and spiritual realms, the process of testing is crucial to ensure that only the authentic is received.

So if you have been the recipient of fraudulent prophetic utterances in the past, let that experience be a lesson to you and then move forward! Add it to your list of experiences that provided a spiritual education! But don’t let it cause you to back off from legitimate and biblically sound prophetic ministry, which is vital and needed both by you as an individual and by the Church at large. Learn from it and move on. Draw on the wisdom and discernment of those who are older and seasoned in the Lord to teach you how to recognize the difference between the real and the counterfeit. That is what Paul was trying to teach the Thessalonians when he told them to “Prove all things….”

The gift of prophecy is real — described as a gift of the Spirit in First Corinthians 12:10. We need this manifestation of the Holy Spirit to be active among us; in fact, Paul exhorted us in First Corinthians 14:1 to actively desire that the Holy Spirit use us in the manifestation of that specific gift.

So cultivate a sensitive heart so you can test every utterance that claims to be inspired by Heaven, just as Paul encouraged us to do in First Thessalonians 5:21. And once you’ve proven a word to be authentic, do your best to embrace it, meditate on it, and wage a good warfare with it in the name of Jesus!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, I thank You for teaching me common sense regarding the gift of prophecy. The apostle Paul clearly told us to test all things, and I confess that I have received “words” without testing them in the past. But rather than reject all prophetic utterances because some have turned out to be false, today I assume responsibility to test and to prove what is spoken over me. I don’t want to miss anything that the Holy Spirit has to say specifically to me, so I refuse to reject the gift of prophecy. But I thank You for helping me as I follow a commonsense approach to the manifestation of this gift from this moment forward. Please help me learn how to recognize what is real and what is counterfeit.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare by faith that I am growing in my personal discernment of spiritual things. I am not as naïve as I once was. I am learning to recognize what is real and what is counterfeit. I release every bad experience I’ve ever had with so-called prophetic manifestations, and I open my heart and my mind to the true gift of prophecy that comes from the Holy Spirit. God gave this gift for my edification and for the building up of the Church, and I refuse to reject it because of past bad experiences. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I am becoming wiser and more discerning in my ability to separate the false from the true.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever heard a so-called prophetic word that sounded authentic, but in the end, you realized it was erroneous? When did you have that experience, and what effect did it have on you?
  2. Has the gift of prophecy been an avenue of God’s blessing in your life in times past? Have you learned to test words given to you before you receive them as inspired by the Lord? What is your method of knowing whether or not you have heard a bona fide word from the Spirit of God?
  3. If you have felt abused by the gift of prophecy, are you ready to release that bad experience to the Lord and start over again in the way you determine the validity of prophetic words that are spoken? Do you see that God wants this gift to operate within the Body of Christ, but He wants you to use your head when it is in operation?

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
— Revelation 2:16

Today the Church is facing a crisis of morals. More and more, society has no stomach for spiritual or moral absolutes. Pastors and spiritual leaders who decide to “take a stand” and preach the Gospel in its pure, unadulterated form are derided as irrelevant and intolerant hate-mongers.

The public reaction to biblical truth is often so adverse that many pastors are hesitant to take strong positions on issues of morality, even though these truths are clearly stated in the Word of God. Rather than answer difficult moral questions, they are tempted to dodge the questions and skirt around the issues in an attempt to avoid conflict.

This same issue plagued the Early Church nearly 2,000 years ago. Toward the close of the First Century AD, there was a group of spiritual leaders who intentionally “watered down” the message of the Gospel to make it less demanding and more accommodating to other points of view. Because the culture couldn’t stomach the idea of a strict exclusionary faith that claimed to be above all others, this group of spiritual leaders attempted to entice Christians to make their faith more inclusive of everyone else’s beliefs.

The problem grew so rampant at the close of the First Century AD that Christ issued a strong rebuke to the people who were spreading this toxic doctrine when He supernaturally appeared to the apostle John. Addressing these erring spiritual leaders, Jesus sternly warned, “Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).

The word “fight” in this verse is the Greek word polemos, a well-known Greek word that describes a full-scale battle that is fought until victory is achieved. This emphatically means that Christ is not willing to surrender His Church to anyone, and He will fight for His Church until it is solidly back in His hands. He refused to stand idly by and let these individuals corrupt His Church. If errant spiritual leaders did not repent of their active or passive tolerance of this false teaching, Christ would rise up against them with His mighty sword.

Christ’s warning to the Early Church applies to the Church in all ages, and it is clear to see why His words are especially relevant to believers today. Although there are many God-fearing pastors, preachers, and spiritual leaders in the modern Christian community, a host of spiritual leaders are replicating the grave errors made by errant leaders in the First Century. In pulpits and congregations around the world, truth is being watered down and altered to reflect the inclusive values of a changing culture. In many congregations, pure, sound doctrine has been completely replaced by soft, “feel-good” messages, and the majority of people in the pews are ignorant of even the most elementary tenets of the faith.

Despite their ability to communicate masterfully, many modern-day ministers lack a basic education in fundamental Bible principles or have simply chosen to avoid teaching sound doctrine in favor of more popular motivational messages. To be direct, it appears that some have been duped into taking a politically correct position on many biblical truths instead of declaring truth — because the truth would put them on a collision course with the society that surrounds them.

This drift away from the Bible has created a doctrinal vacuum in the Church — a void currently being filled with dynamic business ideas, financial advice, and motivational messages instead of the Word of God that the Holy Spirit is bound to honor with signs and wonders. It is certainly true that some of the motivational messages delivered from the pulpit are beneficial in people’s lives, but this help is temporary and can often be found in a book by some psychological guru. When everything is said and done, only the Bible has the power to permanently transform.

Unfortunately, what we currently see and feel is only the beginning of the rift that is developing within the Church world. Unless a major revival occurs, this rift will only grow deeper and wider. If repentance doesn’t melt the hearts of people throughout the Church world, it will eventually seem like there are three churches:

It is not too late for the Body of Christ to make a recovery. In fact, it is never too late as long as there are believers who are willing to hear and hearken to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church. However, in order for the Church to receive the divine power it needs for correction, change, and restoration, it must undergo a transformation from the highest to its lowest levels.

The Bible makes it clear that if spiritual leaders refuse to take a stand for truth in these turbulent times, Christ will fight against them with His mighty sword. This is a battle that they cannot win. Absolutely no one may mitigate the truth of the Gospel — even for the purpose of purchasing peace with the world around them. The only true recourse is to surrender to the Holy Spirit and do what is right, even if it is wrong in the eyes of the world.

Early believers endured bullying, ridicule, imprisonment, and were even put to death because they refused to conform to the world that surrounded them on all sides. Although some believers collapsed under this pressure, many steadfastly resisted this coercion to conform and held fast to their faith. God has always had His remnant — those who will not bow to external pressures. In these last times God will have that remnant once again, and those who refuse to fear or to compromise their faith in Jesus Christ will experience previously unknown levels of the power of God as a result of their commitment to stand by truth.

I realize this is a very different type of Sparkling Gem, but I felt it necessary to write and memorialize what I believe are the greatest struggles facing the modern Church. I encourage you to stay faithful in praying for those believers and spiritual leaders who refuse to succumb to the pressures of the age and stand by absolute, biblical truth, regardless of what the world around them dictates. Why not make a fresh consecration to the Lord today that you will always be counted among that faithful number? Make a quality, immutable decision for your own walk with God: “From this moment forward, there’s no fence left to ride! Compromise in my commitment to Jesus is NOT an option!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Dear Father, I ask You to help me understand the relevance of this word I’ve read today. I pray that You will strengthen the present leadership of the Body of Christ to stand for the absolute truths of God’s Word even if that stance places them in direct opposition to the world. I ask You to raise up strong leaders in the Christian community who will lead the way and courageously stand for truth, regardless of the price that must be paid. I pray for my pastor and for other spiritual leaders. Father, I ask You to help them hear what the Spirit is saying and grant them boldness to call the Church to a time of holiness and separation, even if it is opposed to the voice of the world around them.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I boldly confess that I will stand by the truth of God’s Word, regardless of what the world around me tries to dictate as morally right or wrong. A day will soon come when we will all stand before Christ’s high court of reckoning and give account for how we upheld truth or how we forfeited it to accommodate the world around us. I have made my decision! Regardless of what the world says or what names it calls me, I am going to stand by the Christian values that have guided the Church for 2,000 years. Truth has not suddenly changed — it is society that has changed. I am determined to stand by biblical truth regardless of the price I must pay.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Today’s television programs often depict homosexuality as the norm. Can you think of other examples in modern society where biblical truths are undermined and exchanged with a new code of ethics?
  2. As a Christian do you believe you should merely go with the flow of what’s happening, or is it your responsibility to uphold the absolute truth of the Gospel?
  3. If it personally costs you to take a strong moral stance that is in line with God’s Word, are you willing to pay that price? How far are you willing to go in your commitment to biblical truth?

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.
— Romans 1:11

We saw earlier (see the May 20 Gem) that the apostle Paul deeply yearned to meet the believers in Rome because he believed that if he could spend time with them or perhaps if he could lay hands on them, there would be a spiritual impartation to them. As we discussed then, the word “impart” in Romans 1:11 is the Greek word metadidomi, which means to transfer something from one to another. The only reason Paul would use this word was if he believed he had something inside him that could be transferred to the Romans. Paul believed in what he had in himself, and he was sure that if he could get to them in person, that spiritual substance he carried would rub off on them!

As Paul continued in Romans 1:11, he made it very clear regarding what he wanted to impart. He specifically stated that he believed if he could spend time with them, it would result in the impartation of a “spiritual gift” to them. The word “gift” in this verse is the word charisma — and it is derived from charis, which is the Greek word for grace. When charis becomes charisma, it depicts something that is given or imparted by grace. This is why certain people call themselves Charismatics — indicating that they claim to be gifted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, or at least that they place a significant emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit in their expression of worship.

Historically, the word charisma was used to describe that moment when the gods graced or donated supernatural ability, favor, or power to an individual. Thus, this word charisma meant a gracious gift — and that is exactly how it should be interpreted in the New Testament. A person who has received a charisma has received a donation or an enablement from God that equips him in some supernatural manner.

Thus, when Paul wrote that he wanted to impart a spiritual gift to the Romans, he was saying that if he could see them in person, God would impart a charisma — a divine gifting — to them.

Paul continued to say, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established” (Romans 1:11). The word “established” comes from the Greek word steridzo. It describes something fixed and solid, like a column that holds up the roof of a house. It could also be rendered to brace, to shore up, to bolster, to support, or to uphold, and it fundamentally describes the act of adding strength and support to something that already exists.

In ancient times, the word steridzo was also used to describe a rod that was driven into the ground next to a grapevine to support the grapevine as it grew upward and flourished. That stake gave upward direction to the vine and supported the clusters of rich grapes that hung from the vine. The vines were reinforced and supported by the rod that the vine grew and twined around.

This illustration perfectly encapsulates how I feel when I am around seasoned men or women of God. After being in their presence, I spiritually feel like an iron rod has been hammered into the soil of my heart that helps me keep growing upward in the right direction. I feel reinforced and stronger as a result of being with them. They help me keep my focus where it ought to be, and this all contributes to fruitfulness in my life.

In our backyard in Moscow, Denise and I have grapevines that grow along the fence. As usual, they started out as little twigs that looked every unattractive. But our gardener was certain of their growth, so he acted in faith and firmly hammered tall metal rods next to each little twig. When I asked what those rods were for, he informed me that each rod would provide direction for the vine to grow upward. It was hard to imagine that those tiny little sticks poking out of the ground would one day need such a tall rod to grow on, but he was right! Eventually the vines twined around the rods, growing upward toward the light. Those rods reinforced the growth process — and it wasn’t too long before the vines were producing healthy clusters of grapes.

That’s what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended to do for us — to establish us, to reinforce us, to make us stronger, and to help us grow so we can then bear much fruit for the glory of Jesus and for the furtherance of His Kingdom!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I am so grateful for the privilege of being around seasoned men or women of God. After being in their presence, I spiritually feel like an iron rod has been hammered into the soil of my heart that helps me keep growing upward in the right direction. I thank You for the blessing of being reinforced and stronger as a result of their influence. Holy Spirit, help me follow their example in Christ so I can keep my focus where it ought to be, and produce greater fruitfulness in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are at work on my behalf to establish me, to reinforce me, to make me stronger, and to help me grow. I walk with the wise, and wisdom surrounds and saturates me so that I can bear much fruit for the glory of Jesus and the furtherance of His Kingdom!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you recall a moment when you felt spiritually reinforced simply by being in the presence of someone who was older and more seasoned in the Lord?
  2. What fruit was produced in you as a result of that righteous influence?
  3. Are the gifts of the Holy Spirit in manifestation in your congregation? If not, is there a reason why they are not manifesting in the church? Is the manifestation of these gifts permitted? Do you know what your church believes about the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
— Matthew 4:4

Many years ago, I was living at such a furious pace that the only time I really opened my Bible was to prepare something to preach. The inspired Word of God was only passing through my brain in much the same way textbook material would go in when I used to cram for a test in school. In other words, I wasn’t studying to learn; I was studying to “pass.” The Word wasn’t really going into my heart.

It’s a very difficult thing to admit that this had become the way I was dealing with the Word of God — reading it and preparing my heart at the last minute. But the Holy Spirit spoke to me and convicted me that this was wrong. As God spoke to me, I made a fresh commitment that there would be no higher priority in my life than His Word. And from that time until the present, I have lived with a self-imposed rule: “No Bible — no food.” In other words, I made a personal commitment that if the Word of God did not go into my heart first thing every morning, then no food at all would go into my body. I simply made a decision to put the Word of God first and make it my highest priority, even “more than my necessary food” (see Job 23:12). This is not a biblical rule. It’s my own made-up rule that I needed to establish discipline in my own life.

Matthew 4:4 says, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Why do we eat “bread” or natural food? We eat food because that’s what our body needs to maintain strength and health. And just as our body needs food every day, our spirit needs the Word of God every day for our spiritual health and vitality.

I want us to pause for a moment to look deeply at Matthew 4:4. Notice that this verse says we live “by every word” that comes out of the mouth of God, which is the Greek phrase epi panti rhemati. I want to take this phrase apart piece by piece so that you’ll get the full impact of what Jesus was teaching us.

The word “by” is the Greek word epi, which means on. The word “every” is the Greek word panti, and it means every. It is a compound of two words: pan, which means all, and the word ti, which denotes the smallest, most miniscule detail. Hence, it is every little piece. The word “word” is the Greek word rhemati and it is plural for the word rhema. It depicts living words.

When all these words are used as in Matthew 4:4, perhaps a better rendering might be that man lives by “feeding on the constant stream of rhema — living words — coming toward him from the mouth of God and by consuming all of it, every little piece down to the smallest detail….”

This verse clearly teaches that we are to take every word of Scripture into our hearts and souls and feed on it. Every little nuance of the Word of God has power in it and brings nourishment to our lives. Just as we must have physical food to survive and thrive, so our spiritual nature must have God’s living Word as our daily sustenance if we are to live in His abundance and thrive. It is essential that we live “on” the Word of God if we want to spiritually flourish. To ignore or neglect our spiritual need for the Word is the equivalent of denying our bodies the food that they need to grow, develop, and prosper in health.

David said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Whether we’re talking about a Christian who lived in the First Century or one who lives in the last days of the ages, the answer for living in a sin-darkened society is the same. We must become “people of the Book,” continually receiving God’s rhema — living words — words that He is speaking to us through His Word and His Spirit into our hearts and minds so the very substance of God can be released into our lives. We have to open up God’s Word like we would open a treasure and allow who is inside the written Word to flow within us. This Word is the only thing that will heal us and make us whole, protect our families, and help set our children and our marriages on a blessed, right course.

I encourage you today to renew your commitment to the Word of God like never before. Commit to Him that in these last days, you’ll fill your mind with His creative, restorative substance — His very Person and nature — which will provide you with healing, wholeness, deliverance, protection, and all the answers you need for life. Then the life that resides in you will flow out to others and create a river of blessing for them to participate in and enjoy!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I receive what I read today as a personal exhortation TO ME to renew my commitment to consuming the Word of God on a daily basis. I need “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,” for it brings healing, wholeness, deliverance, protection, and it provides all the direction I need for my life. I ask You to forgive me for letting my commitment lapse, but today I make a new commitment that the Word of God will be the highest priority in my life, more than my daily necessary food.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I make a new commitment today that the Word of God will be the highest priority in my life and that I will consume it on a daily basis. I will fill my mind with His creative, restorative substance — His very Person and nature — which will produce healing, wholeness, deliverance, protection, and all the answers I need for my life. I will put first things first and open up God’s Word like a treasure to allow the Living Word who indwells the written Word to flow within me. God’s Word is the light and life that will make me whole, protect my family, and help set my relationships on a blessed, right course. I confess that I will allow the life of God’s Word in me to flow out to others and create a river of blessing for them to participate in and enjoy!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Be honest — how often do you read your Bible? God already knows the truth, so it’s good for you to level with yourself about this question. Is it enough to keep you spiritually strong? If you ate natural food the way you consume the spiritual food of God’s Word, what would your physical state be like?
  2. Do you have a daily Bible reading program to help guide you as you read through the Old and New Testament? If not, why not find one online, or ask your pastor what daily Bible reading plan he would recommend for you?
  3. What do you experience when you read the Bible? Do you sense that God is speaking to you?

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves….
— 2 Corinthians 13:5

Second Corinthians 13:5 tells us to “examine ourselves” from time to time to see if we are in the faith. This is especially true as we witness the direction society is going in these last of the last days.

That word “examine” is the Greek word peiradzo, which actually refers to an intense examination. This could include a test by fire, a test based on questions, or a test that includes some type of self-examination. A test of self-examination is the most pain-free option, even if you must ask yourself questions that require answers that are uncomfortable to confront.

So today why don’t you do a little self-examining and see how well you fare? Open your heart, be honest, and talk to yourself and to God about these questions. They are designed only to help you consider possible areas where you may need to change.

What do you give to God financially?

Since actions speak louder than words, take a look at your financial giving and see what it reveals about whom you love most. Do you give the tithe, as commanded by Scripture, or do you regularly make excuses for not giving and use the money elsewhere for personal pleasures or other things?

If you are honest today, what would you say that your giving reveals about your love for God?

What do you do with your time?

Do you make spending time with God a top priority in your life? Or do you complain that you do not have time to pray or read the Bible, yet you somehow make lots of time to visit with friends, watch television, go to the movies, and do other things that you want to do?

If God Himself looked at your life and measured what you love most by the things you dedicate your time to, what would He say?

What do you do to serve others?

It’s amazing how many people claim to love God, but never have time to serve Him in a practical way in a local church. Words are easily spoken, but actions prove a person’s sincerity.

By looking at your life, would God say that your actions prove you are more devoted to your own needs and interests, or that your life demonstrates you are in love with God’s Church?

When you pray, what do you pray about? Do you pray about yourself only, or do you pray for the needs and dreams of others?

It is easy to think of your own needs and desires, but how often do you focus your prayers on the concerns of others? When you pray, does God hear you primarily praying for yourself, or does God hear you praying for other people too?

If God were to give a report about the things He hears you pray about, would He report that you are an unselfish person who is concerned about the needs and dreams of others, or would He report that you are concerned only about yourself and your own needs?

What personal sacrifices do you make to serve the Lord?

How long has it been since you gave something up or changed your schedule to help someone else or to walk in obedience to God’s plan? Can you honestly say that you are picking up your cross and dying to your own interests in order to serve others and to make a difference in someone else’s life?

If God opened the books to reveal the sacrifices you have made for Him or others, would the record reveal that you care deeply for God and live in obedience to His commands, or would it show that you are unwilling to inconvenience your life in any way or sacrifice any of your private plans?

What do your spending habits reveal about you?

When you look at the money you spend on your hobbies, personal possessions, and other non-essentials, and then compare it to the amount of money you invest in the Gospel, what does it reveal about your love for God and concern for others who need to hear the saving message of Jesus Christ? We can all mislead ourselves to think we are generous, but if God Himself gave His view of what your spending habits reveal about your priorities, what would He say about you?

Would God say the Gospel is most important to you, or would He say that your spending habits reveal that your driving motivation in life is simply pursuing comfort and pleasure?

What are you sacrificing to be obedient to God?

Is there anything you are laying down in order to walk in obedience to God and His Word, or would you have to honestly say that you don’t sacrifice much for God or others? Are you willing to be inconvenienced to help someone else or to serve in the church, or are you unwilling to jeopardize your own comforts and pleasures?

Would God say your life reveals that you are willing to pick up your cross to do what God asks of you, or that you do everything you can to avoid letting anyone or anything inconvenience you?

What does your lifestyle reveal about your priorities?

Does your daily lifestyle reveal that you love entertainment, pleasure, comfort, and happiness the most? Are you consumed with yourself and your own needs and offer no service to anyone else if it requires you to sacrifice your time, energy, or comfort? Or can you honestly say that you are living your life primarily for Jesus, fulfilling His plan for you in these last days?

If God were to comment on your lifestyle, would He say that it is dedicated to Him and to fulfilling His plan? Would your priorities match those of a selfish or unselfish lifestyle?

A day is coming when the truth about you will be known! The secrets of the heart will be made manifest, and the truth will be laid bare before God. So wouldn’t it be much wiser for you to let God deal with your heart now — to expose those areas of your life and thinking that need to be changed so you can be more conformed to the mind of Christ?

If you let the Holy Spirit deal with you now and bring about the necessary changes in your life, you will be able to confidently and joyfully look into the eyes of Jesus on that day you stand before Him. And you will be known as one who loved Him most of all in these last days when so many were caught up with being “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4)!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I come before You now as humbly as I know how, and I ask You to shine the light of Your Word into every hidden place of my heart to reveal my true motives to me. Disobedience produces self-deception, and, Father, I realize that actions speak far louder than words. I have often praised You with my lips, yet my heart was far from You as I rationalized and justified my self-seeking priorities with self-deluded excuses for being a lover of self more than a lover of God. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me judge myself and lay aside every weight and sin that can so easily trip me up. More than anything, I desire to please You, Father, and to honor the Lord Jesus who gave His life for me. Today, like Jesus, I choose Your will above my own. I yield all I am and all I possess to You for Your exclusive use. I am not my own. I belong to You. I have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I yield to Your transforming power more than ever before. On the day I stand before You and the books of my life are opened and read, I will receive a crown to set at Your feet, just as I lay my life before You now.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I examine myself in the light of God’s Word and I apply what the Holy Spirit reveals. I refuse to delude myself with reasoning that is contrary to truth. I choose to be a doer and not merely a hearer who listens to the Word but refuses to internalize its meaning or to act on the truth. I respond to wisdom’s voice, and I bring my life into alignment with God’s purposes and plan. I choose to agree with God; therefore, I walk in harmony with His will and His ways. I don’t waste my life. I keep my focus on Jesus and on eternity. On that great day when I stand before Him, my reward will be that in this life, I was fruitful for His glory because I obeyed.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Did the questions in this Sparkling Gem stir you to self-examination and repentance, or did they provoke anger? If anger, why did they make you angry?
  2. Did the Holy Spirit actually cause you to pause on one or more of these questions to reflect more deeply on what it was asking? If so, which question in this self-examination really stood out to you?
  3. What area(s) do you feel the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about that you need to address and change? We each have areas that we need to work on, but just between you and God, which areas are you convicted about?

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
— 1 Corinthians 10:13

In these uncertain times, many people are facing huge challenges that have left them feeling like they’re stuck in a trap with no way out. Maybe you’re feeling this way too. However, I have good news for you! There’s a means of escape from every trap, whether it was laid by the devil, by external circumstances beyond your control, or even by your own mistakes.

There are many different kinds of traps people struggle with that span all walks of life. For example, any type of addiction can be a serious trap, such as overeating, substance abuse, illicit sex, or some other destructive behavior. Left unchecked, turmoil in your relationships, whether past or present, can also cause mental anguish and make your mind feel trapped in an emotional prison. Or it could be a discouraging prognosis from your doctor regarding an illness you’ve been battling that overwhelms you with feelings of hopelessness and negativity.

A financial trap can feel particularly crushing. In fact, it can seem like the deepest ditch of all because it affects your emotions, your mind, and your relationships. When you don’t have enough money to cover your mortgage, car payments, credit card payments, or utility bills month after month, it’s easy to let worries about money consume your thoughts. Let me tell you — that is not God’s will for your life. He wants to deliver you out of that financial trap and bring you into abundant provision and blessing. And He knows just how to do it!

First Corinthians 10:13 gives God’s perspective on all the problems you are facing right now. The apostle Paul wrote, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The phrase “such as is common to man” is a translation of the Greek word anthropinos, which literally means commonplace to humans. So Paul was telling us that no matter how overwhelming, suffocating, and insurmountable your trap might seem, it is merely a common human problem that has already been faced and overcome by countless people and believers in the past.

Every human being has the same basic needs and faces the same type of problems and temptations in life. However, it is an insidious trick of the devil to plant the false assumption in your mind that your need is a special case. If he succeeds in doing this, it will be vastly more difficult for you to overcome your obstacle since you’ll view it as a one-of-a-kind problem that you alone have to face. You’ll assume that none of God’s principles apply to your situation because it is so huge, unique, and special. And when someone gives you an answer for your situation from God’s Word, you’ll just nod and say, “Yes, I know that’s what the Bible says, but my case is an exception. It has all kinds of unique complications that make it especially hard to deal with.”

This is wrong thinking! It is imperative that you stop looking at the trap you’re in as something that no one else has ever experienced. During my years as a minister, people have often come to me for counsel and said, “My situation is very unique, an especially difficult case. It isn’t like other problems.” However, as they begin to share their situation with me, I quickly find that it’s the same problem countless others have faced in the past and are facing today.

How you look at the problem will determine how quickly you get out of it! If you look at it like it’s huge, unique, and special, you’ll have a very hard time getting over it.

So how should you look at your problem? Simply address the trap that is holding you hostage and declare, “This is not a special problem. In the history of mankind, I’m not the first person to face this type of challenge, and I won’t be the last. There are countless other people facing problems far more difficult than mine, yet they smile and maintain their joy in the midst of the challenge and end up victorious on the other side! This is just a common problem that many people have conquered before me — and I’m going to be the next to do it!” When you adopt this attitude, you position yourself to quickly escape the trap you’re in by reducing the size of your problem in your mind into something manageable and conquerable.

Paul concluded 1 Corinthians 10:13 by saying, “…But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God is faithful to make a way of escape for you. He will show you how to get out of any trap you might find yourself in right now. There is a way out, and God has given you His Word and His Spirit to guide you every step of the way.

Make the decision today to align your thoughts, words, and attitudes with God’s Word about any problem you are currently facing. Then, step by step, begin walking out of that trap — until that glorious moment when you arrive on the other side, free and victorious!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, as Your child, I am special and unique — but my problems are not. There is nothing new under the sun. Every temptation I have faced or ever will face has already been experienced by others. But more importantly, it has already been faced and overcome by the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, I rejoice that You are faithful to Your promise not to allow me to be tempted beyond what I may be able to bear, but with each temptation, You will also make a way of escape for me. Thank You for showing me the path prepared to get me out of traps that try to drain my hope and cause me to doubt and fear that I may never be free of it. I set myself in agreement with Your Word and Your Spirit to guide me out of my problems and into Your plan for me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that there is no temptation that may try to overtake me that isn’t already common to mankind. I refuse to see any problem as too big to solve. I confess that every situation has a solution and it can be conquered by the wisdom of God. Today I make the decision to align my thoughts, words, and attitudes with God’s Word about any problem I may face. I know my Father God will always provide a way of escape for me from every temptation. Therefore, I listen to His voice and expect His Word and His Spirit to illuminate and direct my steps as I begin walking out of every trap until I arrive on the other side, free and victorious!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Are you facing a problem right now that you have been tempted to “glorify”? Instead of blowing it out of proportion in your mind and your emotions, how are you going to shift the way you think about it?
  2. Have you been guilty of saying your problem is special and therefore unsolvable, even by operating the principles outlined in God’s Word? After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, do you see how important it is to downsize your problem in your thinking?
  3. When your flesh tries to convince your mind that your problems are insurmountable and enormous, how are you going to respond?

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
— 1 Corinthians 10:19,20

It cannot be overstated just how important idol worship was to the pagans of the ancient world. People were intoxicated with the worship of their gods and goddesses. Pagan temples were built in vast numbers in cities everywhere, and idol worship permeated every facet of life.

For believers at the time, it was unavoidable to live in that world and not occasionally walk by an idol, since they were positioned in homes, on streets, and in key locations throughout every city. These environments were spiritually dangerous, and Paul strictly forbade any believer from setting foot on their premises.

However, shunning temples posed a challenge for certain believers in New Testament times because the best meat in town was sold on temple grounds. After meat had been offered as a burnt sacrifice to an idol, temple workers removed it from the altar and placed it in the temple meat market where it was sold for public consumption. So to purchase the best meat in town, one had to physically go inside a pagan temple and look over the meat selection. As a result of this exposure, some began to fall back under the old influences from which they had been delivered.

Paul knew that being so physically close to those spiritually dark environments was too great a risk for these believers. So he urged them to stay away from those sites, lest they fall back under the influence of the demonic powers from which Christ had delivered them. He wrote, “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry…” (1 Corinthians 10:14).

The word “flee” in this verse is the Greek word pheugete, which means to run as fast as possible or to take flight. Furthermore, the tense Paul used for this word conveys that his readers were to constantly flee from idolatry with no exception. He was emphatically stating that idolatry should never be tolerated under any circumstances — not then, not now, not ever. These environments were simply too detrimental for believers who had already been delivered from a life of idolatrous practices.

As an analogy, consider a person who has been delivered from alcohol. Once Christ set him free, it would be foolish for him to meet people in a bar because that environment might lure him back into the habit of drinking again. A bar is simply a dangerous environment for an individual who has been set free from an alcoholic addiction. Common sense says he shouldn’t go there.

Another example would be someone who has recently quit smoking. Hanging out with smokers would create a temptation to light up a cigarette and start smoking again; therefore, common sense dictates that it is better for someone who formerly smoked cigarettes to stay away from those who still smoke so he or she can remain free. That may mean choosing a new set of friends, but severing these ties from the past is a far better option than slipping back into bondage with cigarettes.

When Paul addressed the subject of idolatry in First Corinthians, he made it clear that an idol in and of itself is nothing. Rather, it was the environment in which idolatry was practiced that was so dangerous because demonic activity permeated it. In the dark, spiritually charged environment of these pagan temples, the spirit realm was stirred up under the guidance of the priests and priestesses, and demon spirits were drawn to these grounds like moths to a flame.

It is a biblical command to flee from the presence of evil because it is foolish to blatantly put ourselves at risk in a detrimental environment. We may not fall off the edge of a cliff simply by standing near it, but playing around the cliff’s edge greatly increases the danger of slipping. Keeping a safe distance from the edge assures us that we will not slip and fall. Therefore, although we rejoice in the truth that declares, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4), we must also remember the same epistle likewise commands us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

There is great potential spiritual damage and harm that you can subject yourself to by simply being in a wrong spiritual environment where there is an evil influence.

Christ required that believers live a life of holiness and use spiritual common sense to stay away from the crumbling edge of a spiritually dangerous cliff. He had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (see 1 Peter 2:9), and He knew that skirting around the edges of darkness was not the way for His children to flourish. Thus, the Holy Spirit pleaded with New Testament readers through the apostle Peter: “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16).

Living far from the edge of darkness, evil, and worldliness is what Christ demands. By adhering to this command, those early believers who were once bound by a lifestyle of darkness and sin could continue enjoying the freedom that Christ had purchased for them on the Cross with His own blood.

The same is true for us today. We need to use common sense about where we go and with whom we choose to spend our time. Christ has set us free, but just because we’re free doesn’t mean we can play around the edge of the cliff!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I ask You to help me use common sense to know the places that I need to avoid to maintain my spiritual freedom. I know that I am free. I know that Christ’s power in me is greater than any force around me. But Your Word clearly teaches me to avoid those detrimental environments that once held sway in my life. So in obedience to Your Word, I deliberately choose to change my way of doing things, lest I place myself in spiritual jeopardy. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me be sensitive to discern when I am in a wrong place or with a wrong group — and to show me how to graciously leave when I know it’s time for me to be going!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I will no longer intentionally place myself in positions that are too close to the edge of the cliff. Christ has set me free, but I don’t need to play around or fellowship in the sinful places from which Jesus liberated me. I admit that I’ve made this mistake in the past, but I will not make it any longer. The Holy Spirit within gives me wisdom and common sense to recognize when I’m in a detrimental environment, and He gives me the courage to exit these situations so I can keep moving forward.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Since most of us do not live in places where actual idolatry is practiced today, what is the application of these truths for you and me?
  2. Can you name environments or places that you need to avoid because they would tempt you to fall back into old patterns or habits from which Christ has already delivered you?
  3. Do you know anyone who was freed from sin, but fell back into it as a result of hanging out at the wrong places with the wrong people?