Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 35 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and five amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has written several books, including two that are available on Amazon - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles.

The Math of Generosity

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God loves generosity. He is the greatest giver of all time and eternity. How we handle money reveals a lot about us, especially when it comes to giving. If we have difficulty with being generous, we probably have bigger issues than financial ones.

God’s call to be generous is designed to enlarge our hearts and free us on the inside from the tentacles of greed.

Do we really believe that God is our Provider whose assets are limitless, or do we think that our resources are limited to working only with what we already have? Those who pass this test by trusting that God will abundantly supply everything we need will find out that our generosity opens a floodgate of blessings.

When we cling to what is “ours,” we may end up losing it.

That’s one of the paradoxical principles of God’s money system. However, when we generously give with an attitude of faith and obedience to the Spirit’s promptings, we may be blessed to see God work in unexpected ways.

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV)

It takes faith to give away what it seems that we need for ourselves. God promises to supply our needs, if we trust him as our Provider. Our choice to give generously is evidence that we truly believe this promise. When we give away what we think we need, it shows that we trust God to replace it and give us even more. The key is faith. God wants us to trust him with all our hearts.

The math of generosity requires us to believe that God is not limited by a “closed” system. In a “zero sum” world, there is a limited supply of resources. If we give away what we have, we will have less. But in God’s kingdom the more generous we are, the more we will be blessed.

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Some people have a true gift of giving. They are internally motivated to be generous. Others of us must choose to be generous, especially if we were taught or otherwise learned to hold on to what is “ours.”

Over a Barrel

One way to estimate how generous we are is to look at how in debt we are. Indebtedness can come from various reasons. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, but mostly we get into debt by purchasing beyond our income. We are all prone to do this, but some make a lifestyle of spending beyond their means. This may reveal that we are impatient and lacking faith that God will indeed supply our needs. Being in debt also harms our ability to give generously since much of our income must go to paying off what we owe.

Sometimes the only way to break free into generous giving is to eliminate debt first.

Generosity from Poor People

Surprisingly, perhaps, being poor does not limit our ability to be generous. It is really a matter of the heart. The Macedonian church was very poor but became a biblical model of what it means to be generous. Doesn’t that sound like God?

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4  they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6  So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7  But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:2-7 (NIV)

The only way we can give “beyond our ability” is by faith. It means we disregard our current circumstances in order to be generous to others, trusting that God will meet our needs.

Giving by faith starts with first surrendering ourselves, which includes our finances, to God. Once that is done, God can direct how we use our money as he sees fit.

Until that happens, we will self-direct our finances. Paul calls this a “grace of giving.” We should all aspire to excelling in this area.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

The math of generosity is simple: the more we give, the more we receive.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true.

A corollary truth is that only cheerful giving counts for much with God. No one should try to force someone else to be “generous.” That is a contradiction of terms. Our generosity must be a freewill offering to God, or we are missing the point entirely. Even if we believe that God requires us to give, we should ask his help to be joyfully generous and go beyond what is merely expected.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…  11  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11 (NIV)

The math of generosity teaches us that God increases what the generous giver has so that he will have enough to meet all his own needs plus continue to be generous to others.

In other words, he gives us more than we need as we continue to be generous.

Where Do I Begin?

You may ask, where do I begin?  Do I give to the poor first? Do I give to the church? The Bible exhorts us to be generous to the poor, which includes the promise that the Lord will care for those who care for those who have not.

If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

In my next article, I will look at the principle of the tithe. Many believe that this is where we should begin. The important thing is that we depend on the Holy Spirit and the Bible to guide us. The Scripture has much to say about giving to God’s kingdom work being carried out by the church. More on that next time.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.
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Presuppositions: Are they biblical?

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Presuppositions are beliefs that we consider to be self-evident, taken by faith, and requiring no proof.

For example, many people believe in God without being able to prove his existence empirically. Hopefully we have what we consider to be good reasons for believing our presuppositions, but we will never be able to prove them to a doubter. Everyone has presuppositions, even those who claim to be purely rational and scientific. To claim that we can think rationally is a presupposition, especially if one believes in a randomly evolved universe.

If our presuppositions are correct, they will help us arrive at proper conclusions. If they are incorrect, they will lead us into further error.

In order to establish a biblical cosmology, we must agree upon certain presuppositions, some of which I have listed below. If we can agree on these, it will help us see eye-to-eye as we move forward. I have put the corresponding presuppositions of the Big Bang heliocentric side, as well.

Biblical Cosmology Presuppositions
Popular Cosmology Presuppositions
God exists, and he created the heavens and earth out of nothing by speaking it into existence. There is no God. The universe and all life self-created through the Big Bang and randomly evolved.
God gave us the Bible, which, according to its own testimony, is absolutely true. All its words are inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16) Therefore, we can rely upon the truth of every word. (Proverbs 30:5, John 17:17)  The Bible was written by men and is fallible, outdated, and not a reliable source of information about scientific matters.
We should accept that the words of the Bible are literally true, unless it is clear from the context that we should interpret them in some other way, such as symbolically. We should not impose upon the scriptures an outside presupposition to make them mean something different from the author’s original intent (2 Peter 3:16); although, some scriptures can have multiple meanings beyond the author’s intent.  When the Bible conflicts with established scientific consensus, we must interpret the Bible in a way (symbolically, poetically) that agrees with science.
The Bible is not merely a book that communicates spiritual and moral truths, but it also is correct when it addresses practical, historical, and scientific issues. If the Bible has relevance, it is only in spiritual and moral matters.
God did not “dumb down” his inspired and true Word to accommodate the ignorance of what some call the “pre-scientific” era. If God did inspire the Bible, clearly he spoke in ways to accommodate the level of comprehension of the writers and readers. 

If we can accept these five presuppositions, we can conclude that the Creator God of the Bible was present at creation, knows all things, says what he means, and means what he says. (Numbers 23:19) Many times God does not tell us everything we want to know, but he is always truthful.

None of us were there and have no right to question God’s veracity.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Job 38:4 (NASB95)

Therefore, it is reasonable and mandatory for us to believe the assertions made by the Creator in the Bible over the theories and declarations of fallible men, no matter how intelligent, credentialed, or admired they may be.

The Bible is our most reliable source of truth in all matters. We believe it gives us accurate information regarding the order of creation, the nature of the heavens, and the design of the earth. (Romans 3:4)

The Bible also teaches us that we have an adversary called Satan who is a liar by nature. Jesus said that no truth dwells in him. (John 8:44) According to Scripture, he actively deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), which lies in his power (1 John 5:19). Only those who belong to Christ have escaped from his kingdom of darkness (1 John 5:5). Only those in whom dwells the Holy Spirit of truth and who study and believe the Bible have the ability to detect and defend themselves against the devil’s lies. How sad it is, however, when born-again sons and daughters of the God of truth are duped into believing Satan’s lies! Tragically this happens on a large scale.

There is a worldwide satanic plan to deceive the masses regarding the design of the earth and heavens in order to hide the existence of the Creator.

His plan is also to convince people that we are insignificant and worthless in the grand scheme of an infinite chaotic universe. He wants us to believe that we live in a rather hopeless situation, that our “planet” is in mortal danger, especially from the “virus” of humanity. He also aims to trick people into believing that the Bible is unreliable. (Psalm 2:1-4) How better can he do that than by convincing us that the very first chapter of Genesis is a fairy tale account of creation.

Conversely, our Creator God is revealing the truth about the heavens and earth in order to awaken people to his existence and to convince us to place our faith and allegiance in our Lord Jesus.

It is my hope that this series of articles will assist you to gain a better understanding of the shape and design of the earth and heavens as revealed in the Bible so that your confidence in the Bible and God will increase.

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Biblical Priorities for Spending

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When it comes to spending money, some common sense should guide our establishment of priorities: income should exceed outflow. Simple, yet profound. Obvious, yet commonly ignored. Not following this simple logic is a recipe for economic disaster. Our nation refuses to live by this sound bit of wisdom and seems to get away with it, since it can print its own money, but a day of reckoning is coming. People cannot long continue to spend more than they make without going bust.

People in America are taught from a very young age to go into debt, something our forefathers would have avoided like the plague. They knew better. Why do we do it? Most of the time we choose to go into debt because we want something immediately and refuse to wait until we can save enough to cover it. At times this kind of reasoning makes  good sense, such as when purchasing something that appreciates in value, such as a home. It can also be a good idea for a business to purchase equipment that can be used immediately to make money and paid for with the  money earned. In our nation, most people legitimately need to borrow money to purchase their cars, which are needed to get to work.

Going into debt for anything that is not a necessity will likely lead to some sort of  financial bondage.

It’s easy and fun to get into debt, but extremely difficult to get out. This is because, not only do we have to pay off what we borrowed, but we also have to cover the accumulated interest, all the while continuing to fund our other everyday expenses.

Sometimes people place themselves in a position to go into debt because they fail to create any sort of margin to protect themselves from unexpected or even expected expenses. We cram our “budget” so full that there is no ability to save for emergencies.

What fills our jars?

We all have a “budget,” whether or not we consciously and intentionally follow it. In other words, we all have a certain amount of spendable income and we make decisions on how to spend it.

Disciples are responsible to God for how we use our money.

We should also want to use as much wisdom as possible for our own sake, since we and those under our care will be immediate beneficiaries of our having a sound monetary policy.

Imagine three different sizes of mason jars, which will represent three sizes of budgets. Obviously, the larger jar (budget) will have a lot more room in it for extras. People with very small jars, many single moms for example, will not even have enough room for some important priorities.  Middle class people will have room for most financial priorities, but will not have a lot of extra. Big jar people can get away with having no budget, which might lead them to fritter away money that could be better used elsewhere. Small jar people might feel that budgeting is a hopeless endeavor, which can lead to foolishly spending what we do have. Medium jar people often feel the greatest need and satisfaction from having a budget.

the jar of life stones pebbles and sand motivation 7 638In this illustration, we will fill our jars with four things – stones, pebbles, sand, and water. The stones will represent necessities and large high priority budget items. Pebbles will represent the next level of expense items. Sand will represent what we might call luxury items, and water, which uses up all the remaining space in our budget, can represent “throw away” cash.

If we take our jar and fill it with stones, it will appear to be full. However, if we then take very small pebbles and add it to the mixture, we will watch it begin to fill in the spaces between the stones. Now the jar is more full, but there is still some room. Then we add sand and observe it squeezing into the spaces between the stones and pebbles. Now, surely, the jar is full. How could we get anything else in there? However, if we then pour water into the jar, we will see it fill in around the sand. Once the water level reaches the top of the jar, it is indeed full. What does this teach us?

The wise person  makes sure there is room in his jar for all the high priority items, even if it means eliminating less important things from the budget.

The smaller the jar, the more cutting has to be made, even to the point of cutting some pretty big things. It’s unavoidable.

Thinking through our priorities

What do we consider to be the necessities of life? The Bible lists food and clothing.

But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV)

Most of us would add shelter, and if a person has a serious medical problem, healthcare is a necessity, too. It is important to mention at this point that serious disciples will also add giving (tithing and other freewill offerings) to the list of necessities, driving up our number of stones to four or possibly five. So all of us should have three to five stones in our jar. Here is where you should start feeling some sympathy for the single moms out there whose jar cannot even hold these stones.

Beyond these absolute necessities, we have what seem to be necessities in today’s world – transportation, cell phone costs, car insurance, life insurance, and emergency savings. Pebbles represent this level of spending. Depending on our level of conviction about giving to God, some would add tithing and charitable giving here rather than at the stone level. We will address this in more detail later. These are the expenses that should be next highest level on our priority list. They generally carry high price tags and take up the most space in our budgets.

Sand represents the third level of expenses – optional items, such as entertainment (cable TV), lawn service, Netflix, and vacations. These are things we can live without, but would rather not. They are luxuries. The water stands for the little niceties that make life more enjoyable, such as a cappuccino at Starbucks or eating out. Obviously there is not a lot of difference philosophically between sand and water.

How will we fill our jars from now on?

Many people unwisely pour a lot of water and sand into their jars before adding stones and pebbles. They spend money for bottom tier items first, which prohibits their being able to afford higher priority items. How we spend our money is a deeply personal choice, which no one can force upon us; that is, until we get ourselves into financial trouble. Then we may find the bank or our creditors controlling how we spend. Anytime we borrow money, we give someone else the ability to rule over our spending to some degree.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)

If we are continually short on cash and building credit card debt, we should rethink how we are spending our money.

Do we have too many sand and water items that can be removed to give us more space for saving and essentials? Do we need to eliminate eating out so we can afford to save? Do we need to cut the cord on cable TV, so we can make ends meet? Each person has to evaluate what is individually important to him or her, have the courage to admit when something has to go, and take action.

The problem with many of us is that we have never learned to say “no” to our desires. American culture is geared to making us think that happiness depends on consuming, but wisdom teaches us otherwise.

As you likely have already figured out, another option is to enlarge our jars by getting a better job.

I have not yet really covered giving to God and generosity to others yet. That is one of the most important things that should be in everyone’s budget. Where will we get the money for that? How important is giving to God’s kingdom? Is it a stone item or water or somewhere in between? What about faith? Where does that fit into the picture? We will cover those things in coming articles. For now, I encourage you to start evaluating your spending priorities and make some hard choices, if necessary. It may hurt at first, but in the long term you will be glad.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Immorality – The Infidelity in Us

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Whereas test #1 exposes any remaining idolatry in our hearts; test #2 searches our hearts to ferret out any moral infidelity or immorality so that we can confess that to the Lord and be set free.

Balaam was a false prophet whom King Balak hired to speak curses over the nation of Israel as they marched through the wilderness heading for Canaan. God forbade him from doing so, and, much to Balak’s horror, he spoke blessings and some amazing prophecies over God’s chosen people instead. We learn from this true story that the devil has no power to curse those whom God has blessed.

“For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’ Numbers 23:23 (NKJV)

However, this evil man devised a devilish alternate plan for bringing destruction to Israel by inciting them to sin, which incurred God’s judgment. He and Balak sent idol worshiping Midianite women to lure Israelite men into sexual immorality and idolatry. This rebellious infidelity to God brought down God’s judgment upon the entire nation.

Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. Numbers 25:1–3 (NKJV)

Since Balaam had not been able to curse Israel, he lured God’s people into immorality and idolatry, thus bringing God’s judgment upon themselves.

As Moses and those who remained faithful to God considered what to do, one of the sons of an important clan leader blatantly sinned in full view of the camp, taking a foreign woman into his tent.

Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into his tent, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as everyone was weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Numbers 25:6 (NLT)

Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, took action and drove a spear through both the offending man and the woman, stopping God’s plague of judgment from going any further. In today’s morally lax and tolerant world, this sort of behavior seems very strange indeed and even reprehensible, but the Bible praises Phinehas for this display of devotion to the Lord and his holiness. We learn from this something about the utmost seriousness of sin, especially immorality and idolatry. Sin should never be taken lightly. It is what nailed our Lord Jesus to the cross. Nevertheless, the plague from God killed 24,000 Israelites before it was stopped. (Numbers 25:1-17)

Balaam’s strategy came from Satan and is still operational today. Satan cannot curse God’s people; so, he tempts us to sin against God, which always brings negative consequences.

Mankind betrayed God in the Garden of Eden, choosing to go his own way instead of God’s. Sinful infidelity (the “flesh”) lurks in the human heart ever since, making us susceptible to temptation to sexual immorality. In order to incite us to lust, we are bombarded with graphic sexual images on the internet, TV, the movies, and in other forms of media. Modern culture has largely acquiesced by declaring that sexual transgressions are not really wrong after all. Young people are taught that having sex outside of marriage is normal and natural, and they are encouraged and expected to engage in such activity. The availability of birth control and easy abortions provides a way for people to avoid the natural consequences associated with this sort of sin. Modern medicine has even made STDs less scary.

Nevertheless, one can never truly escape the consequences of sin. Indelible marks are left on our souls and sometimes our bodies, which only the blood of Jesus can cleanse and heal.

God’s commandments always have our best interests in mind, and we violate them at our own peril. Ultimately, we will all give an account to Jesus at the Last Judgment for how we lived and obeyed him. Sexual sin can rob us of heavenly reward and also brings destruction into our lives in the present. It tries to fill our thoughts, thus distracting us from the one thing that should consume us – our love for and devotion to the Lord.

Paul told Timothy:

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (NKJV)

Families and lives are ruined by sexual transgressions. We reap what we sow. Solomon warned of the dangers associated with failing the test of sexual immorality.

Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her (the immoral woman's) ways, Do not stray into her paths; 26 For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27 Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:24–27 (NKJV)

Ironically, this wise man horribly failed this test. We should not imagine that we are somehow immune to the power of this temptation. Many otherwise strong people have succumbed.

Emotional bonds are formed outside of the marriage covenant through having sex, and scars are left when these relationships are broken. This is serious stuff! God will not be mocked. Sin has consequences, and all of them are bad. (Galatians 6:7)

There is always a cost to obedience and to sin. We have to decide which price we would rather pay – the pain of denying ourselves or the pain of the consequences of sin.

There is a very big upside to denying ourselves sinful pleasure in order to please God. There is no upside to sin.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.  Hebrews 11:24–26 (NASB95)

Jude warned us that even some who profess to be followers of Christ will go off the path and try to take others with them. Many who claim to be Christ followers today have fallen for the lie that God does not really care that much about moral holiness.

I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4 (NLT)

God’s mercy and grace should never be used as an excuse to indulge in sexual immorality. Even though I am convinced that the Lord will not take away our eternal relationship with him if we sin, we should nevertheless fear the discipline of the Lord. He is not playing games when it comes to this test and will do whatever he sees fit to bring us to repentance and set us free.

Wise people do not test the limits of God’s patience.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV)

Why not rather heed God’s admonitions and flee immorality?

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)

God will reward us for resisting temptations to immorality. We can only do this by what the Bible calls “walking in the Spirit,” by relying on the combination of a proper fear of the Lord and the grace of God. With God’s help, we can do this! (You can read more about “walking in the Spirit” by clicking here.)

Application

If you have been flirting with or engaging in sexual immorality, or if you have been listening to arguments and reasoning that says it’s no big deal, beware! This is the second of the four big wipe out tests. I encourage all of us to recommit ourselves to setting apart our bodies and hearts for the Lord. Resist sexual temptation and stay away from opportunities to sin. It may be helpful to you to become accountable to some trustworthy loving person, who can assist you to keep your commitments to the Lord. Don’t throw away your heavenly reward for temporary pleasure. Pass the second test by standing strong against sexual temptation.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16  that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17  For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV)

God wants us to set ourselves apart to him so that he can use us for noble purposes in his kingdom. 

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:20–22 (NASB95)

Joseph is a great example of someone who resisted sexual temptation and was later used for a noble purpose. Would he have risen to such an exalted position if he had violated Potipher’s wife and his master’s trust?

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for entertaining immorality. I confess it to you and want to be set free. Guide me, Holy Spirit, in whatever steps you want me to take. Amen.

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The Link between Sorcery and Deception

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Perhaps most people would not think a link exists between deception and sorcery, but the Bible affirms that there is. Concerning mystery Babylon in the Book of Revelation, John wrote:

The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries. Revelation 18:23 (NLT)

Nahum corroborates these words when describing another powerful city of his time, Nineveh.

All because of the many harlotries of the harlot, The charming one, the mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations by her harlotries And families by her sorceries. Nahum 3:4 (NASB95) 

In another verse, the Bible says that Satan has deceives the entire world (Revelation 12:9). It only stands to reason that he uses sorcery to do it.

Those who take the Bible seriously and know that every word is God’s truth realize that God is telling us that governmental and other types of power in this world are often connected to the satanic and demonic realm. This includes the power to deceive, which is wielded through sorcery.

Consider the power of the satanic lie to seduce Adam and Eve into doing what brought death and destruction. Do we think that the serpent in the garden merely used a logical argument against them, or was something far more powerful and sinister at work? I can almost see the glittering eyes of the serpent as he unleashed the poison of his sorcery against them.

The Book of Enoch, which is non-canonical but is quoted in our New Testament, has some interesting things to say about the occult. It relates that evil angels instructed humans in the wicked knowledge of sorcery. The following is from Book 9.

Thou hast seen what Azazyel has done, how he as taught every species of iniquity upon earth, and has disclosed to the world all the secret things which are done in the heavens. 6. Samyaza also has taught sorcery, to whom thou hast given authority over those who are associated with him. They have gone together to the daughters of men; have lain with them; have become polluted;

I do not ascribe scriptural authority to these verses, but they seem to add detail regarding what is recorded in the first few chapters of Genesis. Whether these words are indeed true, we know that people must gain their knowledge of the occult realm from the devil. Where else would they obtain it?

But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. Revelation 2:24 (NASB95)

Just as the deep things of God can only be learned from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10), the deep things of Satan come by spiritual interaction as well.

There are only two sides in this cosmic battle between good and evil, God and Satan. There is only one Lord, Jesus, and one pretender to the throne, Satan. It is important for us to grasp that the entire world system is steeped in deception and that the only way of escape is via the truth found in the Bible as revealed by the Spirit of truth. It is also important to know what we are up against – evil people allied with Satan who have access to “the deep things of Satan.” The power of evil is formidable, but no match for the power of the Lord.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:4–6 (NASB95)

I believe we should understand that there is more deception in the world than we think based on what Jesus said in Revelation 12:9. Governments employ deception on a unimaginable scale through such agencies as the CIA. In an age when the “deep fake” can be easily carried out by modern technology, we must be on guard.

Every other testimony, whether it be scientific, medical, or so-called  “experts”, should be weighed against the testimony of the Bible. When there is disagreement, we must lean toward the Scriptures. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Like the Protestant reformers, we should adopt the motto, “Sola Scriptura” – “only the scripture.” We ought to repent from trusting science or any other human testimony more than God’s Word. This is the only way we will thrive in a world drowning in deception.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31–32 (NASB95)
Prayer

Holy Spirit, we ask you to deliver us from the rampant deception that has enveloped the world. Open our eyes to more and more truth from your Word. If we have been duped by the devil’s sorcery and lies, we ask you to set us free in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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What does our marriage tell the world about God?

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God designed marriage to be a kind of model of the relationship between Christ and the church. People are watching us. Whether we like it or not, people keep an eye on followers of Christ to see if we practice what we preach. They suspect we are hypocrites as are most others. Some people even hope professing Christians will fail miserably because they think that will get them “off the hook” with God. Then they can say, “See, just as I thought, Christianity is a crock! It’s not real.”

People look at our marriages, perhaps because they want to know if its even still possible to have a lasting and happy union. So many grow up in broken homes where they never witnessed what a good marriage entails. So many marriages are failing that it can be disheartening to those contemplating tying the knot! When we pledge lifelong faithfulness to our spouses, most of us, I presume, really intend to keep our vows. Even in a morally confused world, many stilly want the stability and security that lasting love provides.

One big reason why faithfulness in marriage is so important is because it reflects to the world the relationship between Christ and his church.

Jesus is the “husband” in that relationship, and the church is the “bride.”

FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32 (NASB)

God wants our faithfulness in marriage to be a living example of the faithfulness between Christ and his people. Jesus promises to never leave or forsake us, and we promise to always be faithful to him. He gave himself for his bride, the church, by dying for her on a cross. Our loving response is to live and, if necessary, die for him, as we offer ourselves back to him in loving worship and service.

God always keeps his promises, and he expects us to do the same.

When we violate our solemn covenant to be faithful until death to our spouses, we transgress and give a false testimony of the very nature of God, who dwells within each believer.

When we keep our word, we honor God and exemplify his faithfulness to a watching world. Love and faithfulness are two key character attributes of God, both of which a good marriage reflects to the world.

God’s idea is that marriage reinforce the gospel message, not detract from it.

When we tell people that God never violates his promises nor abandons his people, if our marriages do not reflect the same kind of faithfulness, it likely will seem a little hollow. Sure, as humans we fail, but God remains faithful.

Even if our marriages do fail, we can still testify to the mercy and redemptive power of God, but how much stronger is our witness when we live out covenant faithfulness as a kind of living parable!

People are watching us to see if following Christ makes any practical difference at all. Let our marriages be a resounding “Yes!”

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The Prophetic Significance of the Stoning of Stephen for Israel

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IsraelThe stoning of Stephen had tremendous prophetic significance concerning the nation of Israel. Stephen began his final speech to the Jews by giving a short account of Israel’s history with God. Suddenly, he switched gears to pronounce a scathing judgment upon the Jews.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Acts 7:51–53 (NKJV)

We must assume that the Holy Spirit prompted him to pronounce this indictment. His death, witnessed by Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, fulfilled the timing found in one of the prophet Daniel’s visions.

Stephen’s wording was exact. He did not use hyperbole when he said the Israelites always resist the Holy Spirit and never kept the Law. Yes, there were significant men and women during her history who walked with God, but the nation as a whole was steeped in idolatry and did not submit to God. We now know that it was impossible for them to do so and still is, apart from being reborn in the Spirit, for no one is able to keep the Law.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:21–24 (NKJV)

The window of opportunity for the entire nation of Israel to repent and confess that Jesus is Lord came to a close when the Jews killed Stephen.

The more complete outworking of that judgment was fulfilled years later when the Roman army sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in 70 AD, thereby ending the sacrificial system forever. 

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB95)
 
Daniel’s Vision

I wrote another article about the partial preterist interpretation of Daniel’s seventy weeks, which you can read, if you like, by clicking on the link above. I believe this interpretation better agrees with scripture and history. You can click here to read more about my position regarding dispensational theology. Below I will summarize a section of my article on Daniel’s vision. 

“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:24–27 (NKJV)

A generally accepted convention for interpreting prophecy is making a day into a year. Below is a breakdown of how the partial preterist position interprets the 70 weeks.

  • 7 weeks (49 years) – 457 BC (the decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem) to 408 BC, during which time were the ministries of Ezra (rebuilding the temple) and Nehemiah (rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem).
  • 62 weeks (434 years ) – 408 BC to the baptism of Jesus in AD 27 (The anointing of the Holy One.) He was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit to carry out the work of the ministry.
  • 1 week (7 years)
    • AD 27 to AD 31: 3.5 years – The time from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry until his crucifixion. He was the the Anointed One who was cut off. The Messiah will be cut off, but not for himself, ending the need for any more animal sacrifices. He, the Messiah, shall confirm a covenant – the New Covenant.
    • 31 AD to 34 AD: 3.5 years from the crucifixion to the stoning of Stephen, after which the door was officially opened to the Gentiles and a door of opportunity shut for the Jews as a nation. Paul was called and commissioned shortly thereafter.
  • 70 AD: the destruction of the Temple by Titus and the Roman army (the people of the prince), effectively ending all animal sacrifices.

The partial preterist view does not put a 2000-year gap between the 69th and 70th week, as does dispensational theology. Therefore, Daniel 9 does not predict what will happen at the very end of time just prior to the Second Coming. If we accept the partial preterist interpretation, it is quite understandable why Daniel was so upset by the vision. God showed him that Israel would reject and murder their Messiah and Jerusalem and the temple destroyed!

Jesus’ Prophetic Warning to Israel

Jesus also foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 21:6, Luke 21:20, Luke 19:43-44), which signified the end of God’s purpose for Israel.

Israel had the glorious role of stewarding God’s promises and the scriptures as well as providing the human pedigree for the Messiah. However, just as John the Baptist’s role was concluded when he introduced Jesus to the nation, Israel’s role sadly reached its end when it fulfilled the scriptures by crucifying the Messiah! 

In Acts chapter two, on Pentecost, the apostle Peter offered those present in Jerusalem for the great feast an opportunity to repent of this great evil, and 3000 did! Unfortunately, the preponderance of the people and leaders continued to resist the Holy Spirit, just as Stephen said in his last sermon.

Jesus prophesied that all this would happen and that the kingdom of God would be given to another people, one that would embrace him as Lord.

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. 44 “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. Matthew 21:43–45 (NASB95)

This new people was later revealed to be the Church, the “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15) composed of elect Jews and Gentiles who are born again by the Holy Spirit, a new nation and people springing forth from the second or last Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

God’s Plan All Along

The surprising emergence of the church had been God’s intention all along, contrary to the claims of dispensationalism. The church was not a “plan B,” but was God’s original intent as revealed in several places in Scripture.

...to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:10–13 (NKJV)

From the beginning of Israel’s history, God revealed that he would eventually destroy that nation for its blatant rebellion and raise up another people who would fulfill his will.

The first example was at Mount Sinai. Moses ascended to mountain to receive the ten commandments. Upon his return, he found that the people had quickly abandoned their devotion to God and made an idol for themselves to worship. Here is God’s pronouncement of judgment.

The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. 10 “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” Exodus 32:9–10 (NASB95)

Why did God say this? Did he have a “short fuse” which made him prone to utter rash words in anger? Of course not! God knew that the nation of Israel, like all fallen humans, had zero ability to keep his commandments and remain devoted to him.

In the passage above God prophetically foreshadowed his plan to raise up another prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15) from whom he would bring forth another people capable of serving him wholeheartedly. This new people would be the New Covenant church, who would be indwelled and empowered by God’s own Spirit. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Again, when the Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness on their way to the promised land, God pronounced a judgment that revealed his future plan to raise up the church through Christ.

The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? 12 “I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.” Numbers 14:11–12 (NASB95)

When Israel came to edge of the Promised Land the first time, once again they rebelled against God’s command to enter the land and conquer the inhabitants. Only Joshua and Caleb had faith in God’s promises. The rest were sentenced to die in the wilderness over the next forty years of wandering. Only Joshua, Caleb, and the new generation were able to eventually obtain the promises of God.

The principle is simple, the old fallen fleshly order cannot inherit the promises of God. Only those born of the Spirit can enter by faith.

Interestingly, once Israel heard God’s pronouncement of his rejection of their generation, they rebelled once again and decided they would after all enter and conquer the Canaanites. But it was too late. The door had been shut. Their attempt to enter in their own strength did not have God’s support or blessing. It was doomed to failure. (Numbers 14:39-45)

I believe that the nation of Israel today is like that group of rebels. Until the people of Israel submit to Jesus as Lord, they will not succeed. 

When it came time for Moses to die, he again warned the Israelites of what was to come.

Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you. 27 “For I know your rebellion and your stubbornness; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the LORD; how much more, then, after my death? Deuteronomy 31:26–27 (NASB95)

Once again, God pointed out that Israel was incapable of pleasing him because that nation was of the flesh, born of Adam, and part of the old fallen order. No flesh can inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50), but only that which is born of God by the Spirit. (John 3:5).

Neither the nation of Israel nor any other human institution or people is capable of pleasing God or inheriting his kingdom outside of the New Covenant transformation caused by the new birth.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB95)

Those whom God so transforms from within are part of God’s elect, the church, the Israel of God. (Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:29, Galatians 6:16, Romans 2:29, Romans 9:6, Philippians 3:3)

When Joshua was near death, he, too, warned Israel that it was impossible for them to be faithful to God, to which they objected, as we all do before God shows us how hopelessly lost we are without Christ.

Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 20 “If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.” 21 The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 22 Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” Joshua 24:19–22 (NASB95)

The Jews who reject Christ will be judged by the Law, as will we all. (John 5:45)

The law’s purpose is to reveal how hopelessly lost we are. It was never a viable means for us to save ourselves through obedience to it. It only showed how badly we need a Savior.

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:22–29 (NASB95)

It is so difficult for us to admit that we cannot save ourselves, but until we come to the end of thinking we can, we are not ready to receive God’s offer of eternal life through his Son. If we reject the Son, we do not have the Father either. (1 John 2:23) Jesus warned the Jewish leaders that, rather than being children of God, they were offspring of the devil. (John 8:44) Later in Revelation, he calls them the “synagogue of Satan” in two different places.

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Revelation 2:9 (NASB95) 

Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9 (NASB95)

These are not my words, but our Lord’s. He was not antisemitic, and neither am I. Jesus spoke the truth, and I attempt to follow in his steps.

The nation of Israel today claims to be God’s chosen people, but they are not. God has only one chosen people, the elect, who are known by their faith and allegiance to Christ.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants...11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, Romans 9:6–8, 11 (NASB95)

For us to believe that the nation of Israel is God’s chosen people is to misunderstand the New Covenant.

We cannot have it both ways. There are not two tracks for salvation, one that pertains only to Israel after the flesh and another that pertains to all other humans through God’s Spirit. God has only one way to be saved, which is through the new birth by faith in Christ’s resurrection and by declaring allegiance to him. (Romans 10:9-10)

To back Israel now as God’s chosen people is akin to when the northern tribes backed Absalom against God’s chosen king.

Those tribes were deceived into supporting a rebel and pretender to the throne. It did not end well. Many died in a vain rebellion against God’s true king. We dare not fall into that trap today by supporting the nation of Israel as it attempts to regain what God stripped from them in 70 AD. They will not succeed.

God will be glorified in Christ and his church through all eternity, not in the nation of Israel. 

Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:21 (NLT)

Only those descendants of Abraham who acknowledge that Christ is Lord will be included in what is called the Israel of God.

When all the elect Jews and Gentiles are finally born again into the church, the end will come and all Israel (the true Israel of God) will be saved. (Romans 11:26)

The stoning of Stephen was a prophetic marker that closed the door to the nation of Israel. Thereafter, the true born again Israel of God would be assembled from every nation under heaven.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95) 
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How to handle inevitable disappointment in my spouse

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When counseling young couples before marriage, I usually warn them about future disappointment by using a little humor. The man comes into the marriage hoping his wife will never change. The wife hopes to change her husband. Both are going to be disappointed. The old saying is that love is blind. We tend to gloss over our intended’s failings at first as we focus on what makes him or her so special to us. As the newness of marriage wanes, those blemishes start to stand out more. What we might have regarded as “cute” flaws may loom much larger as time goes by. We also will likely discover things about our spouses that we did not previously know, some good and some bad.

Since humans are flawed and all of us are prone to sin, disappointment in marriage is somewhat inevitable.

So, how do we handle it in a way that pleases God and maintains a strong marriage bond?

Since everyone of us has faults and habits that are not ideal, we must decide if what we see in our spouse is something that needs to be confronted or overlooked.

Some sins require confrontation, which our Lord addressed in Matthew Chapter 18. We are to speak to our spouses about what offends us in their behavior, hoping that they will take our words to heart and repent. If that is the case, perfect. If no repentance is forthcoming, we may need to take things to the next level, which is to enlist help from a trusted friend. Every marriage probably needs such a person,  who is trusted by both the husband and the wife and who can speak candidly to both about any issue that may arise. If that does not work, depending on the seriousness of the offense, it may become necessary to involve church leadership in a final attempt to right the wrong. It goes without saying that this would only be employed in serious cases, such as when abuse, adultery, addiction or some other marriage-damaging issue is in play. 

Most of the time, however, we are faced with less serious faults and failings in our spouses that require a different approach. This is where the following verse from Peter’s first letter comes into focus.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)

When we see a fault in our spouses, we can choose to focus on it or overlook it. The more we focus on something, the larger it becomes to us.

Once we go down the path of negativity toward our spouses, it may cause us to overlook their good qualities instead of their faults. It goes without saying that once this dynamic sets up in a marriage, it breeds criticism, discourages our spouses, sets up the sowing and reaping principle, and hurts the marriage. If we want to keep the marriage bond strong, we will need to make the decision to lovingly overlook some things.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:13–14 (NLT)

If this seems too difficult, remember that our spouse is faced with the same choice regarding our faults and failings. Every single one of us is someone else’s “grace tester.”

We will need to enlist the Lord’s help in this matter. The Holy Spirit puts up with us and he can show us how to love our spouses despite their flaws. 

We should ask the Lord to remind us of the many good qualities in our spouses, which we may be taking for granted. If we make the choice to be thankful for those, the flaws will tend to fade in significance. The choice is ours. We can be critics or encouragers. We know that the devil accuses; so, we want to avoid becoming like him. The Holy Spirit is the greatest of all encouragers. He wants us to develop that ability with his help. The more we encourage and appreciate our spouses, the more they will flourish and our marriage be a joy. Who knows, they might even stop doing some of those aggravating things? If they do, we might not even notice.

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Lord, I am having a hard time submitting to my husband!

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Since it is often quite a challenge for a wife to respect and submit to her husband, as the Bible teaches, I want to share a couple of things that might make it a bit easier. Being under authority is a challenge for almost all of us, whether it relates to government, work, church, or the home.

Honoring, respecting, supporting and following those God has put in authority over us requires humility and faith in God’s promise and ability to take care of us.

There are a couple of main reasons why it may be challenging for us to be “under” authority. First, we are all born with a sinful predisposition to resent when anyone, including God, tells us what to do because we think that being subordinate implies that we are inferior. Secondly, following another human being’s leadership exposes us to potential harm, especially if that person is seriously flawed in his or her capabilities, motivation, or judgment. It is no wonder, then, that many wives resent, resist, and sometimes refuse their God-given responsibility to be in submission to their husbands. This is especially true if the husband does not value or listen to his wife, even though she may be the more capable or wiser of the two.

Our resentment of anyone having authority over us goes back to the Garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve attempted to throw off God’s rule in their lives through direct disobedience to a clear command. God created humans to reproduce who and what we are in our offspring. We inherit both good and bad, physical and spiritual. Since Eden, thanks to this inherited predisposition to rebellion, sometimes called the “old man” or the “flesh,” we naturally tend to resist or rebel against authority.

Jesus is the “second Adam” who came to undo the curse of sin and restore humanity and creation back to a right relationship with God, under his authority and blessing.

The Gospel calls us to voluntarily submit ourselves to God again by coming under the authority of Jesus the Lord. Confessing that Jesus is Lord is the key.

We are usually only willing to do this after we become aware of the futility of trying to live independently from God’s life and blessings. Repentance means we acknowledge our sinful independence and yield to God.

For wives, or any of us, to flourish in a subordinate role, whether in the home, at work, in the church, in the community, or at school, we must first come under the authority of Christ. With respect to him, we are all subordinates.

It is vital for us to see that subordinating ourselves to human authority, wherever it exists, is a form of yielding to Christ, because all authority ultimately derives from him.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1 (ESV)

This requires us to embrace the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. We are asked to rest in the truth that ultimately works everything in our lives out for good and his glory. (Romans 8:28) If we believe this important truth, we will be able to submit to those in authority with the conviction that God will protect and bless me in the process, even if the person I submit to is seriously flawed. We can trust that God is able to deal effectively with leaders and those in authority as needed and come to our defense when necessary. When a wife voluntarily subordinates herself to her husband’s headship, she does so with the understanding that ultimately she is subordinating herself to God, who has promised to be her defender and keeper and who will “deal with” her husband, should he “get out of line.”

Therefore, the ability to be under a husband’s authority is directly linked to the choice to come under Christ’s authority and faith in God’s sovereignty.

People resent being mistreated and devalued. Because of our sin nature, those in authority sometimes abuse their position or role, perhaps without even intending to do so. It just comes “naturally.” 

Whether we are “in” authority or “under” authority, we often read too much into the roles God has given us, imagining that they confer some sort of inherent value to us. 

Those who have been given headship frequently think it makes them superior to those whom they govern. Conversely sometimes people under authority wrongly see themselves as being inferior. An air of superiority is difficult, if not impossible, to hide (except from ourselves), and it rankles those who are asked to subordinate themselves to us. We are all fallible humans in desperate need of a Savior and accountable to God for everything we do, whether we are the “top dog” or the lowest “peon.”

In marriage,  a wife may resent her husband’s headship, if he abuses it to devalue or dominate her, both of which communicate an attitude of superiority on his part.

On the other hand, the husband may treat his wife with the utmost honor, but she still may feel resentment because she does not like being under authority, period. Whatever the reason, if a wife resents her husband, it will make it very difficult for her to properly fulfill her subordinate role in the marriage or show respect to him, which is a primary responsibility toward her husband.

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33 (ESV)

Resenting and disrespecting our husbands is a sin problem.

Resentment springs from a hardened heart and is a form of bitterness, one of the most serious sins we all must combat. Disrespect toward our husbands is a form of disrespect toward God, since husbands represent Christ in the marriage.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Ephesians 5:22-24 (ESV)

Therefore, repentance is our first priority when we struggle with resentment and disrespect.

Even when husbands fail to lead properly, they “deserve” to be respected simply because of the headship principle. Respect, in this case, is not earned but is given because it is the right thing. We might call it “unconditional respect.”

Most people accept the idea of unconditional love, but fewer understand unconditional respect, which is a cornerstone of being properly subordinate.

In the military, soldiers are trained to respect and obey any officer who commands them, whether or not they like him or her, or even if they think he or she is incompetent. There are proper channels for getting relief when officers are terrible, but mutiny is never an acceptable option. The same is true in a marriage. Wives should respect their husbands as “unto Christ,” simply because husbands represent Christ’s authority. (Ephesians 5:22) Should a wife be subjected to unloving treatment by her husband, if she is in a local church, she can turn to the pastor and elders to come to her defense, while maintaining a proper attitude of respect toward her husband.

Being respectful toward and submitting to “undeserving” authorities is one of the greatest challenges any of us may face in this life.

Husbands are to unconditionally love their wives, as Christ loves the church, and wives are to unconditionally respect their husbands, as the church respects and obeys Christ. In both cases, Christ is our example and the one who empowers us to be obedient. He was unconditionally obedient to the Father and unconditionally laid down his life for those who were then his enemies.

If the husband unconditionally loves, values, and dignifies his wife, it will be much easier for her to respect and obey her husband.

Resentment tends to disappear when the husband properly loves his wife.

But sometimes loving husbands are not as smart or competent as their wives. How can a wife avoid resenting being under the headship of such a man? She may imagine that God wants her to be passive, a kind of “doormat” who has nothing to offer and who gets run over continually. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Passivity is a warped and dysfunctional form of submission. To drop out of the “game” by simply “going along for the ride” is lazy and cowardly, and not God honoring or truly supportive of the husband. 

Being properly subordinate requires us to do everything in our power to work for the success of our superiors.

Sometimes this requires us to firmly voice our opposition to their position or pending decisions, before the course is firmly set.  Good leaders want those under their authority to present points of view different from their own, because no one has the complete picture or has all wisdom. But once a decision is made, leaders expect those under their authority to lend their support.

Wives should clearly share their (differing, opposing, or confirming) points of view with their husbands. Wise husbands will listen and give proper consideration of their wives’ input.

Wise husbands will also delegate significant decision making ability to their wives in the areas where they have wisdom and expertise.

When husbands do this, it benefits everyone and helps wives feel their worth. Working together as a team builds unity and is God honoring. If a wife is married to a man of abilities that are inferior to hers in some areas, she should ask God and her husband for ways to use those abilities in support of her husband’s leadership. If he is uncooperative or defensive, it may require prayer and patience, and maybe even some counseling.

It takes faith and humility to lead and to follow. Whether we have been assigned a headship role or a subordinate one, functioning in a way that brings glory to God requires us to keep our eyes on him and rely on the help of the indwelling Spirit. We husbands must examine our hearts continually, asking the Spirit to show us how to properly love, honor, dignify, protect, support, lead, and provide for our wives. Wives should ask the Spirit’s help in respecting, honoring, supporting, loving, and making their husbands successful in God’s sight.

God is most glorified when husbands and wives truly love and honor one another and work as a complementary team to advance God’s kingdom.

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Why some husbands refuse or abuse being the head of the family…

marriage

God intends for husbands to have what is called headship in marriage. This means they have the responsibility to lead. When men accept this privilege and duty, with God’s help they can be a source of blessing to the wife and children. Unfortunately, some husbands either abuse or refuse this privilege and responsibility, which creates significant problems for the wife and children.

Husbands are most responsible before God for the well-being of the family and the most culpable if things go wrong. Because some men are afraid of or resent that role because of the pressure and work attached to it, they sometimes “abdicate the throne,” becoming self-centered or passive, leaving the family directionless, unprotected, and floundering spiritually and in other ways. Wives of such men sometimes resort to taking matters into their own hands rather than watch their family suffer. In many households, the wife takes the reins to keep the family from self-destructing. They operate as the functional head of the family, which may suit the husband fine, apparently getting him off the hook. Though this sort of set up may “work,” it is not God’s best. It can lead to the wife losing respect for her husband and the man losing self-respect, too.

Apparently, Adam was just such a man. During the temptation in the garden, Eve took the initiative and Adam passively went along for the ride. Adam was the one God had commanded not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, giving him prime responsibility for being obedient. He must have communicated what God said to Eve, but either he misstated it or she misunderstood it, because the version she related to the serpent was incorrect. So, right from the start, we see a breakdown of the proper functioning of headship.

  • Adam failed to properly or clearly instruct his wife.
  • Secondly, he left her unprotected from the snake’s temptation. Why did he not step in and tell the serpent to leave his wife alone?
  • Thirdly, he did not resist Eve when she offered him the fruit. He passively went along, allowing her to lead him down a path to destruction.

The flip side of abdication is abuse. Many men relish being in charge and greedily grab the privileges and power associated with being the head in order to get their own way. Instead of serving their families, they domineer, intimidate, and abuse them. 

Abdication and abuse are both examples of a husband’s failure to properly lead, serve, guard, and provide for his family.

Both of these failures generally promote insecurity and resentment. Not surprisingly, both tend to damage a wife’s ability to respect and follow her husband’s leadership. Some wives of passive men may sink into fear, insecurity, and a sense of powerlessness. Those with a stronger personality may take to themselves what their husbands cast aside. Plenty of families are led by strong women married to passive men. Taken to the extreme, wives can become domineering and abusive in their own right and very much out of God’s proper order. Wives of domineering men, may fight back or become victims. Either way, respect and love are damaged. Sometimes the presence of the resulting resentment, unless released through repentance and forgiveness, can rip a marriage apart.

Husbands who have run from their responsibilities, whether they have an aggressive “leadership” personality or not, must make the decision to accept the responsibility for leading, providing for, protecting, and teaching their families. Husbands who have selfishly abused headship must repent of seeking their own agendas at the expense of the well-being of the wife and children.

Headship, according to Jesus is servant leadership. Jesus laid down his life for his “wife,” the church. We husbands are to do the same for our wives and families.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, Ephesians 5:23-25 (NASB)

God will help us men to overcome our fears and self-centeredness. He always gives grace to help us do what he commands. If it is scary for us to lead, we can be assured that it is scary for our wives and family to follow us, too. (Smile) If it is difficult to humble ourselves to serve our family instead of dominating them, we can be certain that it takes great humility to follow another person’s lead, too.

Whether we are called to lead or follow, it takes faith and humility. Both are done in the fear of the Lord in order to please the Lord.

Husbands must also realize that leading does not mean that they must do everything. Good leaders know how to delegate. Our wives may have abilities in various areas that surpass ours.

A wise leader delegates without relinquishing overall responsibility.

Those of us who tend toward being domineering must learn to put others first and become servants. Serving others is not a sign of weakness. Jesus was the greatest servant of all, but he is unquestionably the Lord of lords.

Even strong women usually appreciate husbands who step up to lead. Less strong wives perhaps may appreciate it even more. However, when a wife has operated as the functional head of the family for a long time, it may be quite a challenge for her to let go and trust the husband to assume his proper place. God’s grace will be needed for both spouses.

Husbands who act as servant leaders and provide proper headship for their wives and families help create a safe atmosphere of security, love, and peace in their families and removes pressure from the wife that God never intended for her to carry. 

Proper headship erects a barrier against satanic temptation and attack. Proper leadership gives good instruction and guidance, helping to insure that children have every advantage in life. There are no negatives to husbands being loving and humble servant leaders to their families.

Prayer for Husbands Who Want to Lead Properly

Lord, Jesus, please help me to be the leader, provider, protector, teacher, guide, and keeper of my family. I understand that you are all those things for me. It gives you pleasure to help me represent you to those I love. Help me to lovingly serve my wife and children. Help me to be an example of a disciple and show them how to follow you for themselves. Amen.

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