Category: Discipleship Foundations

Chapter 41: Understanding Authority

Recognizing and submitting to God’s authority is a key that unlocks great faith.

A wonderful example is found in Matthew’s gospel when a Roman centurion came to Jesus to ask for healing for one of his servants. When Jesus offered to accompany him to his home…

…the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9  I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! Matthew 8:8-10 (NLT)

The centurion understood that his authority to command was derived from Caesar’s authority to command him. The authority he had did not originate in him. His obedience to Caesar gave him delegated authority that was backed up by the power of Rome. The centurion also understood that this is how the kingdom of God works. He saw that Jesus was obedient to His heavenly Father, and consequently great authority flowed from heaven through him allowing him to operate in God’s power. The same will be true for us.

If we submit ourselves to Christ’s direct lordship and to his delegated authorities in our lives, God’s authority and power can more freely flow through us.

Seen in this light, authority is a good thing, despite its being abused by some.

Many people struggle with being obedient to authority. Some authority figures have been poor examples of godliness and have abused their roles. Because of our sin nature, we tend to misuse authority for selfish reasons instead of using it to serve and bless others.

If we have been mistreated by those in authority, we may fear or mistrust authority figures in general.

Some of us are simply proud and rebellious, not being willing for anyone to tell us what to do. This is another problem altogether. In the church, the remedy for the first case is for genuine Christian leaders to demonstrate the proper use of authority to defuse the fear and mistrust. The answer to the second problem is for God to deal with the rebel in us to set us free. Either way, it is extremely important for us to relate properly to authority.

The alternative is not good. If we persist in our rebellion, God says that…

A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Proverbs 17:11 (NASB)

Absalom, king David’s charismatic son, became bitter in response to how his father handled a serious family matter that involved a half-brother raping his full sister. He never got over it and eventually led thousands to their deaths in an ill-advised attempt to wrest the kingdom away from his father.

An offense can morph into bitterness, which, in turn, can become rebelliousness that can lead to death.

Therefore, it is paramount that we forgive all who have offended us in some way.

Jesus taught that those who have authority in God’s kingdom must use it to serve others.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. Matthew 20:25-27 (NLT)

Men and women who use their authority to serve others properly model God’s authority. This is true in the family, workplace, government, and church.

Sadly, authority is very often used contrary to God’s plan. Authority has been used to subjugate, intimidate, steal, kill, and destroy. This is how Satan uses the authority he stole from Adam. All who serve Satan use authority in the same way.  

Nevertheless, all authority ultimately derives from God, even if it is misused; although it may misrepresent him.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4  for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5  Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Romans 13:1-5 (NASB)

 We learn from this passage that authority is meant to properly represent God’s character and justice by rewarding good behavior and punishing disobedience. It is supposed to provide protection, provision, and direction to our lives.

When those in authority abandon God’s intention and begin to represent Satan’s kingdom by oppressing those they should serve and advocating evil instead of good, their authority is illegitimate in the strictest sense because it fails to properly represent the source of all authority.

Despite authority’s misuse, when possible, we obey and respect even illegitimate authority.

If those in authority command us to sin or violate our consciences, we must decline to obey, while still maintaining a proper attitude toward them.

This is not easy or simple. It is wrong to speak ill of leaders – complaining, maligning, or mocking them. God has made it clear that He hates all forms of rebellion. In the United States, speaking evil of those in authority has become an art form. We should never revile those in authority. (Jude 1:8)

Some believe that when authority becomes tyrannical, we are required to overthrow and replace it with a more godly form of government. This was the mindset of those who led the American Revolution. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a much-respected church leader in Nazi Germany, participated in a coup attempt against Hitler, which failed, landing him in prison until his execution. He believed that his obedience to God required him to act against an evil and tyrannical ruler. Others, such as the Quakers, have historically taken a position of non-violence, refusing to involve themselves in such matters. I cannot settle the age-old dispute between pacificism and patriotism, but each of us should seek the Lord and try to arrive at a proper stance on the matter, while making room in our hearts for those who come to another conclusion.

Believers are responsible first to obey God and, secondly, other forms of authority, which includes church leaders.

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)

Even though human authority is quite imperfect, God wants us to obey, trusting him to somehow intervene to bring everything into alignment with His will.

This is also true in the home, where wives are admonished to be subject to their husbands in all things (except sin), and children are exhorted to obey their parents.

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23  For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24  As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:22-24 (NLT)

This is often a daunting command for the wife, since everyone knows that women are smarter than men and generally more capable of running things. (Smile.)

Submission to human authority requires us to believe that God is sovereign and will take care of us as we seek to obey Him in all things.

It is just this type of abandonment to God that breeds great faith. Once we surrender to God’s will, it is no big stretch to believe He will answer our prayers and keep His promises.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)

In conclusion, authority is given by God for our protection, direction, and provision.

The wise person submits him or herself to all delegated authorities related to his or her life because this is one way we demonstrate our submission to God. We trust in God’s sovereignty, knowing that he rules over the ones who rule over us. When we place ourselves properly under authority, God’s authority can be released in our own lives in a greater way resulting in great faith to serve the Lord.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  1. What does it mean when it says we are to obey authorities “as unto the Lord”?
  2. Have you ever submitted to an unreasonable authority figure out of fear of the Lord? How did that turn out?
  3. Why does submission to authority prepare us to wield authority?
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Chapter 40: A Call to Sacrifice and Suffering

Sacrifice and suffering are so integral to the process of making disciples that their absence is a red flag that something has gone awry.

Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, “Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. Mark 8:34 (GW)

In some ways the American church growth movement has got it all wrong.

Packaging the church in a way that minimizes sacrifice to gain followers will likely boost attendance but lower commitment to Christ.

Jesus sometimes preached to the crowds in a desert area far from conveniences and even food. One time such a group spent three days listening to his teaching. Would anyone in America even attend such a gathering? Even then it required an unusual combination of spiritual hunger and self-denial, something that should characterize every disciple.

Jesus never made it easy to follow Him. Discipleship is not for the faint of heart.

Many early Christians had to make a life and death decision to join the church. Under heavy Roman and Jewish persecution, they understood that becoming a disciple would likely result in suffering or even martyrdom.

When persecution exists, the high cost attached to declaring allegiance to Christ produces a pure church.

Conversely, in the absence of persecution, the church accumulates people whose devotion may be scant or even counterfeit. When Constantine made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, declaring allegiance to Christ suddenly became a steppingstone to advancing politically, socially, and financially. Many believe this was the beginning of the corruption of the organized church.

Jesus spoke of this issue in his parable of the wheat and the tares or weeds. In his account, the master’s servants sowed good seeds, but at night his enemy sowed weeds in the same field. When it became apparent what had taken place, the master told his servants to let both grow together until harvest, at which time the two would be separated – one to become food, the other to be burned.

False disciples will always be present in the church. Often it is difficult to distinguish them from the real thing, but suffering and persecution have a way of sorting things out.

In his parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus taught us that suffering for the gospel will drive those of shallow commitment away.

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. Matthew 13:20-21 (NLT)

It is important that we present the gospel in such a way that people understand from the beginning that following Christ is costly. Otherwise, people may approach discipleship as a consumer, expecting to be enriched by Christ without their having to deny themselves.

Paul made it clear that suffering is a normal experience for believers.

Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12 (GW)

One way we might discern how committed we are to Jesus and the gospel is by assessing whether we are experiencing any sort of suffering or persecution.

The natural tendency is for us to “back off” showing open allegiance to Christ, if we perceive that the potential for backlash is high. If we let this become a habit, we may find ourselves effectively “denying” Christ by failing to affirm him.

I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 9  But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. Luke 12:8-9 (NLT)

Those who have aligned themselves with Satan’s agenda are increasingly bold. We have the opportunity to meet them head on with our bold testimony of allegiance to Christ. If we decide ahead of time that we are willing to suffer persecution for the gospel’s sake, it will help us not to flinch.

Suffering is a necessary part of the Christian experience. We are not appointed to suffer the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5:9), but we are appointed to suffer for the gospel.

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3  so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4  In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4 (NIV)

Suffering relates to following Christ in general, not just with being vocal about our allegiance to him. Denying ourselves can be painful in the short run, but delightful in the end.

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29 (NLT)

Making the continual choice to put Christ first in our lives will cost us in many ways.

For some it means being alienated from family. For others, it may mean losing longtime friends. Others may lose their jobs or find themselves blocked from being able to advance.

Persecution comes in many forms, but the goal of our enemy is always the same. He wants us to either deny Christ or abandon our commitment to follow him.

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:5 (NLT)

Once when Jesus had just taught a crowd something very difficult to receive, many walked away from following him.

It seems that our Lord deliberately tests his followers’ commitment to him.

It is not unusual for the Lord to allow things to confront us that either offend or confuse us. When this happens, we are tested in our loyalty to him. Jesus does not necessarily make it easy on us in these circumstances. He wants us to see what is in our heart. He asked his most loyal followers if they wanted to turn back, too. Jesus is not afraid to ask us such things.

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67  Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68  Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69  We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69 (NLT)

In this instance, Peter passed the test, publicly affirming his devotion to Christ, despite not understanding everything his Master taught.

We may think we are fully committed to him, but testing and trials reveal the truth.

Real faith perseveres under pressure, even if we have a temporary setback, as in the case with Peter when he publicly denied the Lord. Later Peter wrote the following to encourage the church in the face of suffering.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

Peter experienced the keeping power of God when he failed miserably. He wanted us to know that the Holy Spirit is the one behind our faith. Real faith perseveres.

Suffering works something deep inside us that nothing else can.

That is why it is a necessary part of the process of discipleship.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)

Paul went on to say that suffering precedes ruling.

If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12 (NLT)

It also results in glory.

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:17 (NLT)

Even though it goes against human nature, disciples should embrace suffering rather than run from it.

James encouraged us to do just that.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (NLT)

No one is expected to go looking for suffering or persecution, but neither are we to shy away from it. In fact, we should expect it.

Let us be like Paul who wrote the following.

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9  For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10  And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11  And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. 12  That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. 2 Timothy 1:8-12 (NLT)
Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  1. Why do you think our Lord makes it so challenging to be his follower?
  2. What is the costliest decision you have ever made as a disciple?
  3. Is God asking you to do something that might result in suffering for you personally?
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Chapter 39: Lordship Matters – Lord of My Finances

How we use our finances reveals a lot about our relationship with the Lord. Although no one ever accused Jesus of being greedy or wanting to get rich, he talked about money quite a bit in his parables. Our faithfulness with how we handle money is directly connected to being a disciple.

Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people's money, why should you be trusted with money of your own? Luke 16:10-12 (NLT)

Money exerts a powerful pull upon the soul. Either it will capture us or we will rule over it. Loving money and being a disciple are not compatible.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13 (NLT)

A first step in bringing our finances under Christ’s lordship is to practice tithing.

The Bible teaches that giving a tenth of our income or “increase” goes all the way back to Abraham, well before the Law of Moses was ever introduced. Therefore, tithing is not a form of legalism, if done with a proper attitude of heart, but something that God wove into the fabric of life. Even though tithing is not commanded, as such, in the New Testament, Jesus did refer to it.

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Matthew 23:23 (NLT)

This would have been the perfect time for him to say that the tithe no longer applies, but instead he stated that it is something we should do.

The New Covenant did away with the necessity of our adhering to the ceremonial and dietary laws of Moses. Jesus made it clear that all foods are now “clean,” and he fulfilled the ceremonial law of offerings, etc. making that aspect of the Law obsolete. However, the moral law still stands. It is built into the universe because it reflects the character of God.

Withholding the tithe is a form of stealing, as I will show later; therefore, tithing is connected to the moral law which is still in effect.

Interestingly, Jesus usually “raised the bar” when it comes to the moral law. Here is an example.

You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28  But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 (NLT)

God not only wants us to refrain from sinful actions, but he desires to set us free from sinful desires, too. I cannot think of an example when he reduced the demands of the moral law. Instead, he focused on the heart and made it clear that God’s standards are extremely high – so high that only Jesus could perfectly keep them.

It is inconceivable to me that in the matter of giving God would expect less of people who have the indwelling Spirit than he did of Old Covenant believers.

The tithe was necessary to support the work of the priests and Levites and the upkeep of the Temple. The tithe is how we support God’s church and work today, too. When we give a tenth back to God, we acknowledge His ownership of us and all we have. It shows that we understand that we depend on Him.

The tithe is an acknowledgement that God has authority over our finances and our lives.

The Bible teaches that the tithe belongs to the Lord: so, to withhold it is to rob God. The Jews were rebuked by the prophet Malachi for doing just that.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Malachi 3:8-10 (NASB)

We learn two more things from this passage. Withholding the tithe will result in loss for us and giving the tithe opens the door to God’s abundant blessings.

Being generous puts us in a position to fully experience God’s generosity.

If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38 (NLT)

God loves a cheerful giver; so, it is important that we do not give reluctantly as a religious duty or to avoid being punished by God. Faith provides us with a proper motivation for giving.

Knowing that tithing is the right thing to do and believing that God will abundantly supply our every need, if we are obedient, will help us to be joyfully generous.

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

God’s lordship over our finances does not stop with the tithe, however. All our finances belong to God. He owns us and all we have.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20  for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

A disciple is called to lay down everything at the Lord’s feet, knowing that God will take care of us.

This brings us to offerings.

Offerings are donations we make to individuals or ministries over and above the tithe.

These are freewill offerings, completely under our discretion and direction, which are given as we are led by the Spirit. The tithe, on the other hand, should be given to the local church to which we belong and placed entirely under the direction of local church leadership as an acknowledgement of Christ’s authority over our lives. Tithing is a great blessing and privilege, but making offerings is even more fun. This is where we can see directly how our giving blesses others. Some have said that tithing opens God’s storehouse, but offerings determine how wide the door swings open.

The general principle is that we cannot out give God.

But lordship extends to more than just giving. It also concerns how we manage the money we retain. A disciple seeks to live wisely, as described in Proverbs, not spending up his reserves.

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20 (NIV)

A wise person makes provision for the future as best he can, keeping in balance the need to live in constant trust in the Lord.

Sometimes God requires that we give away what we have saved so that our trust may be completely in Him. Wisdom and faith do not work against one another, but sometimes one may take precedence over the other.

A wise disciple has self-control in how he or she spends money, not living beyond his or her means. In a nutshell, a disciple uses money rather than the other way around.

Integrity in financial matters is essential.

There should be no hint of cheating or impropriety in our finances. There is no room for laziness or confusion in how we handle money.

We should carefully handle our finances God’s way because it is a proving ground for more important things, the stewardship of true spiritual riches.

Lastly, giving to the poor is extremely important as well.

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

Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. Proverbs 22:9 (NLT)

Alms giving is close to the Lord’s heart and softens our own heart. Jesus told us to give to those who ask. (Matthew 5:42) We should allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in how we give, except in the case of the tithe, which is not ours to direct. Some people are dishonest and attempt to prey upon the generosity of the saints. Others are lazy and prefer to beg rather than work. We cannot always discern motives, but if we give with a pure heart, we should leave how our gift is used to the Lord. I believe it is a good practice to carry extra cash so that we can be generous when it is appropriate.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • What for you is the most challenging aspect of how God wants us to handle money?
  • Do you think we should give as a regular habit or only when we can do so with a glad heart?
  • How would you counsel a non-tither who has trouble making ends meet?
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Chapter 37: Lordship Matters – Lord of My Time

Each of us has been allotted a certain amount of time here on earth for which we are responsible to God to use it in a way that will glorify and please him.

Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalms 90:12 (NLT)

Since all life comes from, is sustained by, and will return to God, it is only reasonable that we surrender our lives and time to our Creator–Sustainer–Redeemer.

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16  for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17  He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)

Our time here on earth is a gift from God subject to being retrieved at any moment. What we do with our lives is more important than how long we may live. In God’s sovereignty, some of us are given a relatively short time. Others live for a much longer span.

… All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalms 139:16 (NIV)

From our point of view, life is filled with uncertainty. None of us knows the day of his or her death. These human bodies, though resilient, can also be quickly extinguished. However, according to the Bible, we are safeguarded by Him until the time when He has chosen for us to depart from this earth.

But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, "You are my God!" 15 My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Psalms 31:14-15 (NLT)

Our security is found in being in God’s will and presence, not in being removed from evil or dangerous circumstances.

On occasion, hostile crowds of people wanted to put Jesus to death for perceived blasphemy, but he was unharmed because His time had not yet come. But when the time arrived for Him to die on the cross, He did not resist.

Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.” 54  So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home... Luke 22:53-54 (NLT)

We too should live our lives in bold obedience to the Spirit of God, knowing that our Keeper protects his people.

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:7-8 (NLT)

Knowing this will allow us to calmly pass through the gates of death into God’s glory when our time finally arrives.

But what do we do with the millions of seconds that pass each year? Are we accountable to God for each one? The answer is “yes.”

Faithful disciples are privileged to surrender each moment of every day to the Lord.

This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 (NLT)

Instead of “killing” or wasting time, we are challenged to “redeem” it.

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

Jesus told the parable of the virgins who were unprepared for their master’s coming and could not go into the feast. Time waits for no person. When the door of opportunity swings open, we must be ready to enter. When it swings shut, the opportunity has passed.

When we are a new disciple, it is wise to prepare ourselves for the future through study of the Word and developing our ministry skills.

This can usually be done effectively in a discipleship relationship with a mentor, preferably in a local church. We will get opportunities to serve along the way as the Lord sees fit. It is important for us not to think so highly of ourselves that we refuse seemingly menial service. Even our Lord washed his disciples’ feet.

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25  Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26  But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Luke 22:24-26 (NLT)

The Lord told us in another parable that the one whom the master finds serving his household well will be put in charge of much, but those who are unfaithful will receive punishment.

How we serve now prepares us for future promotion if the Lord allows it.

Jesus told us that he who is faithful in little things will also be faithful with much, but he who is unfaithful with what seem to be insignificant matters, will also be unfaithful with more important things. (Luke 16:10)

Our character is revealed by how we approach our responsibilities and influences how useful we can be to God.

This brings us to a third consideration. We have this lifetime to prepare for an eternity in heaven. We will be rewarded for our obedience and for our love for Christ. Our heavenly Father is in the process of transforming each of us to look, think, and act like Jesus.

If we do not spend our time cooperating with the Holy Spirit in this process of transformation, we may suffer loss in eternity.

Because of God's special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. 14 If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NLT)

Every day we get opportunities to submit ourselves to God’s transformation process, or we can waste our time by being self-centered, stubborn, and resistant, making it necessary for God to discipline us repeatedly regarding the same issues. The Israelites under Moses’ leadership spent forty years traversing the desert when the trip could have been made much more quickly. The problem was in their hearts.

Let us strive to cooperate with God and redeem the time allotted to us.

Lastly, we must realize that God does not regard time as we do. To Him, one day is as a thousand years.

But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment. 2 Peter 3:8-10 (NLT)

His transformation process may require many years to complete. We may be old and well past our prime when He finally fulfills a promise He made to us when we were much younger. That is because his idea of what is our “prime” is much different than ours. Remember: he did not put Moses into action until he was eighty! We want to be people who are still bearing fruit in our old age.

God is looking for serious people who will be faithful with their time and available for use in His kingdom.

Abraham was a very old man when he received his promised son, the beginning of the lineage of Christ. We should never write ourselves off as being too old or too young or too weak or too insignificant.

God uses the most unlikely people who choose to submit their lives and time to him in obedient trust.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • How can we remain at rest while being careful to redeem our time instead of wasting it?
  • Can you think of anything you can do now to be better prepared for God’s plan for your coming days?
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Chapter 36: Lordship Matters – Lord of My Life

My life is the most unique and precious thing I have, which is precisely why it is so important to surrender it to our Lord Jesus.

If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 (NLT)

Most of us guard our own lives and those of our loved ones as best we can. Understanding this, Satan takes advantage of our propensity to put our own interests first. When the Lord stated his pleasure in Job’s steadfastness, Satan retorted that, if Job’s own body and health were afflicted with sickness and pain, he would quickly cast aside his faithfulness to God in a desperate effort to save himself.

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” 4  Satan replied to the LORD, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5  But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” Job 2:3-5 (NLT)

Thankfully Job did not succumb to the universal temptation to accuse God of evil when things go wrong. He clung to his determination to glorify God in all things. When his wife advised him to “curse God and die,” he responded:

…“You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. Job 2:10 (NLT)

Everyone of us would prefer a relatively trouble-free life full of God’s blessings, which was essentially what Job enjoyed prior to this long trial of his faith.

When things are going well, it is easy to think we have faith, but, when things go “south,” we find out what is really there. Faith is like a muscle: it gets stronger the more it is exercised. Without testing, the quality of our faith remains unknown.

We may imagine that we will never be moved by adversity, but we cannot know until we are tested. King David wrote about this in a psalm.

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." 7  O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8  To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: Psalm 30:6-8 (NIV)

When Job’s faith was stretched to the limit, he became angry with God because he felt he was being treated unjustly, but he never turned his back on God. It is okay to question God, if we do not walk away from him. Interestingly God never answered Job’s questions. Instead, he revealed himself to Job in such a way that the need for such answers disappeared.

The more revelation we have of God’s glory and character, the less we question him.

Job uttered one of the most triumphant verses in Scripture when he was at his lowest.

Oh, that my words could be recorded. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, 24  carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. 25  “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 26  And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 27  I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:23-27 (NLT)

Little did he realize that this magnificent expression of faith would be memorialized in the Bible and read by countless millions of people, just as he requested!

We need to realize that how we handle things when we are hurting, confused, or in danger, is our opportunity for our faith to shine and give glory to God.

Holding fast to our confidence in God and his promises when we are at our lowest shows how much we love him, even above our own lives.

We admire those who courageously cast aside their own well-being to save others. The Medal of Honor is often given, sometimes posthumously, to such heroes. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down his life for His sheep.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:6-8 (NLT)

Our Lord told us that, if we really love one another, we will do the same.

Jesus challenges His disciples to cease trying to save or protect our lives, but instead willingly put them on the line in service to God’s kingdom.

In fact, he bluntly states that this quality determines whether we are really disciples.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT)

This does not mean we should be careless or foolish. Rather we should carefully assess what God wants us to do and put his will ahead of self-preservation. A missionary named Jim Elliott said the following prior to be martyred by the Auca Indians:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Every disciple will be tested in this area. What do we love more – God or our own lives? To be effective and to glorify God, our answer must clearly be the former.

Much of what we must endure in the way of God’s discipline relates to his delivering us from inordinate self-love.

Christians have no right to a self-protected life because we have been ransomed from the pit of destruction for one purpose only – to bring glory and honor to God. What good is a slave who only does what he wants to do with no regard for the master’s needs or wishes? He is not worth the purchase price; nevertheless, the church is filled with self-willed “servants of God.” We like to “talk the talk” but do not always embrace radical self-denial.

Adam and Eve failed this test miserably. Ever since then, God has been looking for those who will cast aside self-interest because of their love for him.

Paul said that his son in the faith, Timothy, was just such a man.

I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21  All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:20-21 (NLT)

In God’s sight, putting God first is the essential element of the quality called faithfulness or loyalty to God.

Staying loyal to God when we encounter adversity requires us to be full of faith – faithful.

Our faith enables us to keep our eyes on the Lord and cling to his promises, sometimes against all odds, as Abraham did during the time when his faith was tested.

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21  He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22  And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23  And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24  for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Romans 4:20-24 (NLT)

Joseph was another man who clung to faithfulness during an extended test of his faith. This is what the psalmist said about him.

He sent a man ahead of them. He sent Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18  They hurt his feet with shackles, and cut into his neck with an iron collar. 19  The LORD'S promise tested him through fiery trials until his prediction came true. Psalm 105:17-19 (GW)

Lastly, Jesus had to endure this ultimate test of faith, too. When he hung naked upon the cross enduring the mockery and taunts of his enemies, he cast all his hope on his Father in heaven. Even his most pathetic statement made when he hung there was a testament to his faith in God’s faithfulness. It is necessary for us to read the full context of those famous words he uttered.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3  Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4  In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5  To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalm 22:1-5 (ESV)

Jesus never wavered from his loyalty to the Father. He put his trust in Abba’s promise to raise him from the dead, just as did Abraham.

Jesus gave up his life to receive it back again. This is what he asks us to do, too.

There is nothing we can give God in exchange for what He wants from us – our very life. We cannot buy off God with our tithes and offerings. We cannot deceive God into thinking we have given everything when we have not. We can gain the whole world in the pursuit of self-interests, but God will not be impressed at all. What He wants is a fully surrendered heart and a fully available life. This is our challenge. This is our quest. We rely on God’s Spirit to get us there.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Do you think that most Christians act as if they are stewards or the owners of their lives?
  • Was there ever a time when in prayer you consciously and deliberately offered your life to God with no strings attached? If not, are you willing to do so now?
  • Is God asking you to surrender some area that you have been withholding from him?
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Chapter 35: Lordship Matters – Lord of My Heart

One of the major differences between the Old and New Covenants is that the New changes us at the heart level.

"This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them." Hebrews 10:16 (NLT)

The New Covenant is a radical departure from the way God related to people. Under the Old Covenant, obedience to the Law was the basis for having a proper relationship with God. Blessings were attached to obedience and curses to disobedience. Personal performance measured our connection with God.

In the New Covenant, obedience springs from the new heart God puts within us via the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Rather than focusing on outward compliance, the New Covenant is a matter of the heart, where faith dwells.

Although most Israelites served God as a matter of Law, even under the Old Covenant there were individuals who connected with God from the heart. They were forerunners of what was to come. One example was Abraham, whose heartfelt faith opened the door for him to have a right relationship with God.

Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” 6  And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:5-6 (NLT)

Abraham is a wonderful example of New Covenant life. His faith in God’s promises produced obedience to his commands.

Faith, which resides in the heart, reveals itself through acts of obedience.

You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23  And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24  So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. James 2:22-24 (NLT)

However, our obedience does not regenerate or save us. Only Christ’s perfect work of redemption can do that. By faith we connect to his perfect work so that it is transferred to us.

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29 (NLT) 

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

However, it is also true that faith produces obedience that testifies to its presence in our lives. If we say we believe God will take care of us but refuse to take any risks, our words seem hollow. Abraham took the risk of leaving his home, friends, and culture to pursue God’s promise. That proved he believed God. Interestingly, all this took place before God ever gave Moses the Law.

Moses was the man through whom God gave Israel the Law; however, his own relationship with God was from the heart. One interesting verse illustrates this.

He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. Psalm 103:7 (ESV)

Legalism only looks at performance (acts), but Moses knew God’s heart and ways. It took a man of faith who knew God’s heart to act as a mediator between God and Israel. In this way, Moses foreshadowed Christ, the ultimate mediator.

David was a man who lived after Moses and was “under” the Law. However, he related to God outside of the parameters of the narrow confines of the Mosaic Law. When he was hungry, the priest gave him bread that only the priests were allowed to eat. He worshiped God openly in what was called the Tabernacle of David, where the Ark was kept, which only the High Priest was supposed to have access, and that only once a year. He was forgiven for sins that technically required the death penalty – murder and adultery. David was described as “a man after God’s heart.” Despite his many faults, his heart had been captured by God, which is a New Covenant reality.

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ Acts 13:22 (NLT)

Despite committing serious sins during his lifetime, David’s overall orientation toward God was one of love for him. His relationship with God made him willing to serve the Lord with a “whole heart.” David also seemed to have an unusual for his day relationship with the Holy Spirit that is our New Covenant “normal.” After he repented for his sin with Bathsheba and against her husband Uriah, he begged that God would not remove the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11  Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT)

Perhaps David only had the Spirit with him; whereas, New Covenant believers have the Holy Spirit within. We depend on him to transform us from the inside out and enable us to serve God from the heart. Nevertheless, King David experienced elements of New Covenant life. This is not surprising when we realize that in addition to being a king, he was also a psalmist and prophet. His life foreshadowed our Lord and his coming messianic kingship.

Our acknowledgement of Christ’s lordship is our declaration that we will follow his teachings and walk in step with his Spirit in accordance with our hearts being captured by God.

Our deepest need, in this regard, is for God to remove from us duplicity of heart. David, the psalmist, wrote:

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:11-12 (ESV)

We depend on the Holy Spirit to give us integrity in the innermost part of our being, the heart, so that we are not double-minded. Duplicity causes us to be unstable and unreliable. (James 1:8) Only God can make this happen by his Spirit as we continue in God’s Word.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (ESV) 

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT)

Like Abraham and David, we are challenged to be obedient from the heart without wandering into the joy-sapping world of legalism, which is our default frame of mind if we fail to keep our focus on Christ and his grace.

We become legalistic whenever we try to obey the Lord in our own strength, rather than rely upon the grace of God.

We can tell when we are walking in the Spirit because we will enjoy the fruit of the Spirit. If we stray into legalism or licentiousness, we will bear the opposite fruit.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:19-23 (NLT)

God’s grace teaches us to obey God’s Word and to abstain from evil, but it does so through the power and working of God’s Holy Spirit, the Only One Who is able to live the Christian life.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13  while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14  He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)

Calling Jesus Lord, then, is a pledge to love Jesus and his Word from the heart as the Holy Spirit transforms us from within, with the expectation that this will produce joyful obedience. Like the apostle Paul, we can experience what it is like for God to work into our lives a love for God’s will in combination with the grace for doing of it. (Philippians 2:13)

When we engage God’s will with God’s grace, obeying the Lord becomes a joy.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:3-5 (NASB)

A good test for how well we are walking in step with the Spirit is to ask ourselves if we find joy in obeying God.

If I am struggling in some area, it may be because Jesus is not yet Lord of that part of my heart.

We are continually challenged to surrender and re-surrender our hearts to the Lord. The “flesh” never goes away and never reforms. It will be with us until we die physically and are resurrected, always trying to pull us off course.

Following Christ is a grace-filled pursuit of making Jesus the Lord of my heart.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Would you say that most Christians depend more on their own will power or God’s grace?
  • How would you explain to someone how “walking in the Spirit” works?
  • What would you tell a person who claims he or she can sin without worrying about it because the “grace of God will cover it”?
  • Have you known anyone who abandoned the Lord and gave themselves over to sin in a certain area? What do you think may have caused that?
  • Christ admonished the church to return to our “first love” for him. (Revelation 2:4) How can we do that?
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Chapter 34: Lordship Matters – What about My Rights?

A study of Christ’s lordship invites us to discuss rights. A right is a guaranteed legal privilege. In the United States we have certain “inalienable” legal rights originating from our Creator and enumerated in our Constitution in the form of a Bill of Rights. US citizens grow up expecting to have these rights upheld by their government and those around them. Over time many other “rights” have been propounded, such as the right to affordable housing and health care; although, these are not of the same ilk as those in the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights lists freedoms we have that cannot be withdrawn from us by the government. The latter represent what we only have if the government provides them to us using taxpayer money.

As a result of this heritage of guaranteed rights, many people begin to be “rights-oriented,” rather than duty oriented. Rights were never intended to replace duty, service, and hard work. When we demand that the government be our provider, we miss the point of the Bill of Rights. In a similar way, we may begin to look at God as if he were simply there to provide for our every need, instead of his being our Lord and King.

Jesus made it clear that we are his servants in addition to being beloved children of God.

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" Luke 17:7-10 (NIV)

If we focus on our rights, we will likely put our own desires first. The discipleship attitude taught by Jesus puts the master’s will ahead of our own.

Paul wrote about how a disciple should think.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

The founding fathers of our country based their belief in rights by combining what is found in the Bible and the writings of various authors from the Enlightenment in Europe. Does the Bible also guarantee these rights? Let’s examine three from a Biblical perspective.

First, does the right to free speech come from God? The Bible nowhere enshrines free speech into law; however, God does uphold our responsibility to speak freely regarding truth.

Our responsibility to God always supersedes what the laws of men require. Whenever there is a conflict, God expects us to put him first.

Jesus commands his disciples to speak freely about the gospel, even when such speech is legally prohibited. Today some countries forbid speaking openly about Jesus, but that does not stop fearless people from doing it. Freedom of speech is a wonderful right in the United States, or at least was in the beginning when the government upheld it. Today forces are at work to deny that right, but that does not stop fearless people from freely speaking, if we are willing to endure the consequences.

God never promises us we can share the truth without suffering for it.

Even where speech is legally free, speaking truth can be costly, even in the church.

How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!  Amos 5:10 (NLT) —

Freedom to worship without government interference is the second right we will examine. This enshrines the right to follow our consciences without being persecuted or regulated by the government. Even if the government allows freedom of worship, we may encounter negative consequences for serving Jesus with a whole heart. People can be pressured to conform through shame, shunning, withholding affection, denying job opportunities, etc. Those who have worshiped God outside of the mainstream know what it means to encounter “soft” persecution and peer pressure.

God wants us to make serving and worshiping him something for which we are willing to suffer. Obedience to God is always the top priority for those who love him, even if it is not legally sanctioned.

Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28  “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” he demanded. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” 29  But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. Acts 5:27-29 (NLT)

Many of Jesus’ disciples suffered greatly for following, worshiping, and speaking freely about Jesus. It did not matter to them whether it was legal or not.

Searching for freedom to worship according to conscience was what brought many of the early settlers to North America. That is why they fought so hard to codify it into law. It is a wonderful right, but not one guaranteed by God. In fact, a disciple might be asked by God to live in a nation where there is no freedom to worship or speak freely.

The third right we will examine is the right to bear arms. This was not simply the right to own weapons, but to carry them and use them if necessary. This right was enacted into law as a reaction to the British attempt to confiscate the colonists’ weapons, powder, and ammunition to render them defenseless. Realizing that governments are easily corrupted and often will turn against their own citizenry, this right was put into place to allow people to defend themselves against government tyranny and any other threat. Does God endorse this right?

This begs the question does God ever approve of using violence to defend ourselves or overthrow tyranny? The answer is yes, if we affirm that the God of the Judges is the same God of the New Testament, and he is. God periodically raised up men and a woman to lead Israel into battle against oppressors. I believe it is godly to fight against tyranny. Certainly, people through the ages have believed this and put their lives on the line. No father or husband would idly watch a rapist or murderer savage his family. Neither should we allow another nation or group to destroy our country, even if that enemy comes from within.

I believe it is our duty to protect those we love to the best of our ability.

The ability to protect ourselves depends greatly on what weapons we have at our disposal. Our founding fathers wanted us to be able to defend ourselves effectively. If the government seeks to take away our means of self-defense and make us depend wholly on it, we should resist, knowing governments in general always proceed toward evil and greater control over time.

Government is a beast bent on becoming a god having supreme authority over its subjects.

This is why our founding fathers built so many checks and balances into our system.

The United States is supposedly a Constitutional republic in which representatives are elected to represent the citizens in making laws and enforcing them.

If a government begins to ignore its own laws, it becomes illegitimate by definition and therefore without Constitutional authority. The only means by which such a government can impose its will is by tyranny.

Do we have the “right” to resist such a government? The framers of the Declaration of Independence said we do. What does God say?

Christians over the centuries have argued this point, and I cannot imagine anything I might write would solve the impasse. In our own country during the Revolution, citizens took a wide variety of positions, from pacifist Quakers, to monarchist Church of England Tories, to pro-war Presbyterians and a patriots. Within families there were irreconcilable differences, even within my own Beck family, some holding with Britain and others siding with the “rebels.” Each group no doubt was convinced that its own position was the right one.

I believe each person must make up his or her own mind based upon their understanding of the Bible and by following the dictates of conscience.

In my opinion, there is not a clear-cut biblical position. I think we can mostly agree that we do have a general right to defend ourselves from harm, which requires some form of armament.

When it comes to persecution for our faith in Christ, however, it seems that God wants us to be pacifists and trust him for the outcome.

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39  But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40  And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41  And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42  Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42 (ESV)

The kingdom of God does not need defending, but earthly kingdoms do. We are citizens of both.

Jesus told Pilate:

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 (NLT) —

Paul wrote the following well-known passage about the function of government under God.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.  Romans 13:1–5 (NASB95) —

If government derives from God and represents God, as is stated above, then any government that does not properly represent God by punishing evil doers and rewarding law abiding citizens is, in a sense, illegitimate. It is also true that God may have installed it as a form of judgment against a rebellious and idolatrous people. Do we have the right to revolt against such a government? Our founding fathers believed we had the right and the duty to overthrow it. What does God say?

Paul lived under such a government. Rome was a pagan tyrannical government that oppressed those subjugated by its military might. Never once did Paul advocate insurrection. Instead, he used his rights as a Roman citizen to his advantage whenever he could. His main and only focus was to preach Jesus and establish local churches throughout the empire. Eventually he was put to death that government.

Rome was not a constitutional republic, however. Citizens did not have the right or responsibility to elect their representatives as we do. Therefore, life in America today is quite different from life in ancient Rome.

To argue that Christians today should passively accept all their government does ignores our responsibilities as citizens. I believe we have a responsibility to hold our representative government accountable, especially if it becomes lawless.

Indeed, our government has violated Jefferson’s three primary rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For example, the life of the unborn is not protected. Lives of hospitalized Covid patients were not properly protected. As for liberty, citizens recently were pressured to take unproven and unsafe mRNA injections. J6 defendants remain in prison without due process. As for the pursuit of happiness, how can that even be properly defined? One person’s happiness may come at the expense of another’s liberty or life. It would have made many pro-vaxers happy if those who refused the jab would have been incarcerated. Many mothers end the lives of their unborn children in pursuit of their own happiness.

God is pro-life and pro-liberty. Jesus came to restore both. He came to give eternal life to those dead in sins and set prisoners free. (Isaiah 61:1)

But the freedom that Jesus provides comes to those who surrender to him their right to direct their own lives.

The price of life and freedom is great. Jesus had to give up his life to provide both to us who declare allegiance to him. Life and freedom are gifts that come to those who acknowledge their sinfulness and need for God and come under Jesus’ benevolent lordship.

The framers of our Constitution unwittingly elevated freedom and rights to an almost deified status, as if they somehow exist outside of God.

The exercise of freedom outside of God’s will always leads to bondage and death.

Just ask Adam and Eve. They were free to eat from any tree in the garden, except for one, and live. They abused their freedom, however, and chose to eat from the one forbidden tree, resulting in death and enslavement of all mankind to the devil.

True freedom is living in accordance with God’s will. When we abuse freedom to live independently from God, we end up losing freedom.

We err greatly if we believe that our rights or liberties exist apart from God.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT) 

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36 (NLT)

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT)

True freedom comes from God and is only found in God. Without him, freedom morphs into evil, and the pursuit of rights leads to tyranny.

A great example is how women’s rights have been elevated to the point where it is now acceptable for a mother to kill her unborn child. God never gave us freedom to murder.

The Bible and the Spirit are the dual means that God uses in the lives of his children to help them experience the true freedom that comes from being in conformity with his will. As believers in Christ, we know that we were on our way to hell before Jesus gave up his life to buy us back from slavery to sin by shedding his blood on the cross. He paid a terrible price for our freedom.

We now belong to God, not ourselves.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NASB)

Slaves do not have the right to run their own lives: they serve their master. If you read Jesus’ words at the beginning of this lesson, you will see that is precisely what He taught His followers. Jesus lived this way, too. He said that He only did what His Father told Him to do.

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19 (NASB)

Yet Jesus is the most liberated and authentic Person who ever lived, proving that being obedient and under God’s authority does not infringe on one’s liberty at all. In fact, the very opposite is true: when we resist God’s authority to “do our own thing,” we become enslaved to sin.

True freedom is doing God’s will.

Therefore, we conclude that, as citizens of God’s kingdom, we lost our right to have rights as the world understands them. We belong to God, and his will takes precedence over everything else. Disciples of Christ have no right to hold grudges, be disobedient, insist on having our own way, or to have a prominent ministry or role in the church, government, or at work. Instead, we gain status with God by serving and considering others better than ourselves.

We also are most likely citizens of whatever country in which we reside. We have responsibilities there as well.

We walk in the tension created by the responsibility of serving God first and making other allegiances a lower priority.

We must maintain the freedom to live according to God’s Word and our consciences, no matter what others say or do. Even if it costs us our lives, we must insist that our freedom to live for God cannot be taken away.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Do you believe Jefferson was right when he cited God as the author of our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
  • Do you think disciples should engage in politics?
  • Do you believe that Christ’s commands in the Sermon on the Mount are meant to be taken literally? Why or why not?
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Chapter 48: Lordship Matters – Authority to Administer Church Discipline

Administering discipline to defiantly unrepentant members of the church is a responsibility that is unpleasant, yet sometimes necessary.

It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NLT)

No humble leader desires to use his or her authority in this way. Parents of small children have a similar responsibility to correct and discipline their children as needed. The failure to do so, according to the Bible, reveals a lack of love. Sometimes parents’ fear of alienating their children restrains them from carrying out their duty to administer discipline, which rarely produces good results. Likewise, if the church does not make a stand for purity and holiness, the leaven of sin may infiltrate and harm the entire church so that its testimony in the community may be severely damaged.

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  1 Corinthians 5:6–8 (NASB95)

Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.  1 Timothy 5:20 (NASB95) —

People are precious to the Lord; so, we must be careful to handle disciplinary situations in the best way possible, that is, the way the Bible instructs.

Just as a parent disciples a child in the hope of helping that little one become a responsible, God-fearing adult, the church should use discipline in a similar way to hopefully inspire the unruly one to repent and live in a way that will bring God more honor and them more happiness and fulfillment.

Jesus gave us the basic guidelines for handling conflict and unresolved sin issues in Matthew Chapter 18.

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:15-18 (NASB)

Conflicts should be settled one on one if possible. Only if this fails should others be brought into the affair. After all avenues to bring about repentance and reconciliation have been exhausted, church leaders are responsible to use their God-given authority to disfellowship or excommunicate the offender.

This means the church only disciplines those who embrace a sinful lifestyle and refuse to repent, not those who simply struggle with some sin.

This requires leaders to prayerfully consider the attitude of their own hearts as well as the one who is under scrutiny regarding discipline.

In the final stage of church discipline, Jesus instructed us to treat the offender as a “Gentile or tax collector,” meaning that we consider them as someone outside the household of faith and blessing. Even though I am convinced that no one is beyond God’s love and care, functionally this is how we should treat them for their own good. Being excluded from church fellowship and functions should wake up the unrepentant one to the gravity of his or her sin.

A good guideline is that if the sin is private, correction can often be private, but if the sin is publicly known, the correction will likely need to be public as well.

Today the threat of excommunication (the barring from church fellowship and participation in the Lord’s Supper) has much less force than it did in the time when the Bible was written. Today recalcitrant individuals often withdraw (excommunicate themselves) from their local church before the leaders confront them and join another church, quite often with no questions asked by the new church’s leadership. The new church may open its arms wide, simply being glad to have someone new, without ever investigating if any problems may be trailing them. This is why it is such a good thing if church leaders in a geographical area have a good working relationship so that communication can take place in such cases.

When I was functioning as a lead pastor, when new people visited the church and showed an interest in joining us, I would talk to them about why and how they left their previous church. If there seemed to be any unfinished business, I would usually ask them to try to clear it up before joining us. Sometimes it would be impossible, but other times it was doable. Otherwise, the problems will likely be duplicated in the new church. If new people speak negatively about their previous church, it is a red flag. Quite often they will end up speaking ill of their new congregation, too, unless they resolve the issues. These are guidelines, not rigid principles. Every situation must be evaluated in its own light.

Paul gives us more insight into what it means for a person to be excommunicated in his first letter to the church at Corinth, where this took place.

But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 1 Corinthians 5:11 (NASB)

We learn a couple of things at least from this verse. First, Paul lists several sins that can lead to being excommunicated, not just what is usually considered, such as adultery.

Generally, we feel more comfortable confronting sins in others, if we personally do not struggle in that area. We may be harsh with others, but gentle with our own sins. It is important to strive to be honest and humble. We all are sinners in some area or another.

How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Luke 6:42 (NLT) —

Secondly, we learn that excommunicating an unrepentant member of the church means much more than barring him or her from meetings. It prohibits other church members from having friendly fellowship with them, which some people call “shunning.” This may seem harsh, especially today when the world considers judging anyone to be morally repugnant, except of course when people in the world harshly judge the judgers. However, consider the alternative to this aspect of proper church discipline.

If church members continue to relate normally with someone who is rebelliously and publicly unrepentant, outsiders may conclude that the church winks at sin. The unrepentant one may conclude the same thing.

I know of entire families who no longer attend church meetings because of a past serious sin that their home church refused to confront.

The failure to properly administer church discipline may lead one to think that it makes no practical difference whether the sinner repents or not. Of course, God often directly chastens the sinner, regardless of what the church does. There are always consequences connected to sin.

Lastly, people in the church may be influenced to adopt similar sinful practices, seeing that there are no apparent negative consequences.

Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 1 Corinthians 5:6 (NLT) —

Therefore, for the sake of the unrepentant sinner, the unsaved, and those in the church, we must lovingly and responsibly administer church discipline.

One thing that makes discipline so difficult is that we all know that we too are guilty of sin. King David failed to properly discipline his son, Amnon, who raped his half-sister, Tamar, Absalom’s full sister. Because David also had committed adultery with Bathsheba and indirectly murdered her husband, it seems that he was somewhat paralyzed when it came to properly disciplining his own son. No doubt, another aspect of his inaction was that he was wearing two hats – king and father. He probably should have recused himself and let someone else disciple his son.

We sometimes fail to discipline others when we have not confronted the same sin in our own lives.

David’s previous sin combined with his failure to properly discipline Amnon for his sin, brought the king and the nation some horrific consequences. Absalom became deeply offended and bitter with his father and his half-brother and took matters into his own hands. He ordered his servants to kill Amnon for his crime against his full-sister, Tamar, and later instigated a full-blown rebellion and coup against his father King David, which resulted in great loss of life, including his own.

All of this fulfilled what was prophesied by Nathan at the time of his earlier repentance.

Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’ ” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. 14 “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.”  2 Samuel 12:9–14 (NASB95) —

This illustrates that sin has associated negative consequences that we can experience even after repentance and forgiveness. God will forgive us if we repent, but the law of sowing and reaping is still in effect. Nothing good comes from failing to obey God, and this includes matters of church discipline.

In addition to preserving our testimony in front of an onlooking world, protecting other church members, and eliminating corrupting influences from the church, proper church discipline seeks to bring the offending party to repentance and eventual restoration.

Again, we turn to Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 4 In the name [authority] of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NASB)

When the offender is excommunicated, it removes him or her from the protective covering of the church. The reason for taking this radical step is to help the person to repent.

Just as the prodigal son “came to his senses” after he reaped the full measure of his folly, it is hoped that the same will take place with the excommunicated one.

This is exactly what happened in the church at Corinth.

Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, 7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 (NASB)

In the above case, we see the best possible outcome and have modeled for us the correct attitude we must have when administering church discipline. Pride and self-righteousness will undermine the process and probably bring judgment upon us from God.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1 (NLT) —

Let us never forget that all of us are completely dependent upon the mercies of God. However, we also cannot afford to succumb to the twisted logic of the world which would prevent us from judging at all.

In addition, we must be quick to forgive, if the sinner repents. In so doing we manifest our heavenly Father’s heart. Just as the father of the prodigal ran to meet his son at the first sign of repentance and returning, we too must be on the lookout for any signs of repentance and not be coolly aloof, demanding extensive proof of real change. Jesus told his followers to forgive far beyond what seems reasonable to us.

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Matthew 18:21–22 (NASB95) —

When it comes to quick forgiveness, as Abraham Lincoln advised, if we are to err, let’s err on the side of mercy. Thank God that He forgives us even though we continue to struggle!

A wonderful example of proper discipline is found in John Chapter 8. A woman was caught, probably trapped, in the act of adultery. The man apparently escaped or got a pass. Perhaps he was the setup person. Nevertheless, the woman was unceremoniously dragged publicly in front of the Lord in order to force him to choose between showing her mercy and affirming the Law’s command to stone adulterers to death.

disciplineThe Jewish leaders demonstrate the very worst possible example of how to handle church discipline. They were harsh, unloving, and hypocritical. Jesus, on the other hand, was kind, merciful, and loving. The Jewish leaders wanted to embarrass her and treat her poorly. Jesus was never disrespectful, even as he lovingly confronted her sin and challenged her to repent. The Jewish leaders condemned her, but our Lord did not. As a result, she was salvaged and set free from her sin. I encourage you to read the passage and think deeply about it.

The heart attitude of those who confront sin will make all the difference. When people witness proper church discipline, it encourages them to be honest about their own sin. Harshness makes hypocrites of us all.

The authority to administer church discipline resides in the eldership of the local church. However, we all must participate in this ministry to one degree or another. Jesus made it clear in Matthew Chapter 18 that we all have a responsibility to confront evil. Paul challenged us to always act with humility and the fear of the Lord.

When the truth is spoken in love, it allows us to be direct without causing undue damage. If we are harsh, it may create problems beyond what already exists.

If we are faithful in this responsibility, we may help someone escape the clutches of sin and in so doing preserve many from its degrading influence as we keep our testimony pure before the world. 

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.  James 5:19–20 (NLT) —
Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Have you ever witnessed or participated in some form of church discipline?
  • Do you think it was done properly?
  • What was the outcome?
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Chapter 33: Lordship Matters – Water Baptism

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

The Great Commission instructs the church to go and make disciples. The two sub-points our Lord attached were 1.) water baptism, and 2.) teaching them to obey his commands. Since baptism is the first command for disciples, it is a top priority and not to be skipped over or taken lightly. It is often the first way any new disciple can show his commitment to the Lord. The church is commissioned teach its disciples the necessity of obedience in all things, especially water baptism.

Water baptism is a public declaration that we belong to the Lord and a pledge to serve him.

When a person accepts the gospel invitation to be reconciled to God through faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross, he or she is born again and indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

The third Person of the Trinity sets up a permanent residence in our lives. He is the resident Christian, the only One Who can live the Christian life. He is our Helper, the One Who ministers grace to us, enabling us to be assured, bold and obedient followers of Christ.

The Bible says that we are “sealed” by this same Spirit. God marks us in an invisible way as belonging to Him. According to Paul, this spiritual seal is proof that God will complete the work of salvation in us which He has begun.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NASB)

This seal is invisible and must be spiritually discerned, but our faith is meant to be a public proclamation, not something hidden. When we submit to a public water baptism, before witnesses, we boldly declare that we belong to Jesus Christ and our lives are his.

Water baptism is our public seal confirming God’s invisible seal, which signifies our union with and allegiance to Christ.

We declare that our old way of living for sin and our own desires is finished, dead, and buried, and that the rest of our natural lives will be lived for our Lord in the power of His resurrection as the Holy Spirit enables us.

Paul wrote the following regarding water baptism.

All of God lives in Christ's body, 10 and God has made you [plural] complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised. It was not a circumcision performed by human hands. But it was a removal of the corrupt nature in the circumcision performed by Christ. 12 This happened when you were placed in the tomb with Christ through baptism. In baptism you were also brought back to life with Christ through faith in the power of God, who brought him back to life. 13 You were once dead because of your failures and your uncircumcised corrupt nature. But God made you alive with Christ when he forgave all our failures. 14 He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross. 15 He stripped the rulers and authorities {of their power} and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ. Colossians 2:9-15 (GW)

There are three major baptisms mentioned in Scripture – baptism into the body of Christ, baptism into water, and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Each of these baptisms is different, having a different baptizer, a different subject, a different medium into which the subject is baptized, and a different purpose.

The baptism into the body of Christ takes place at the new birth. The Holy Spirit takes the new believer and immerses him or her into Christ’s body, the church. This is when we are sealed in Christ by the indwelling Spirit.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NASB)

Water baptism is the outward demonstration of the inward baptism into Christ’s body with the added dimension of its being a public declaration of allegiance to Christ.

In water baptism, another believer baptizes a new convert, or someone who finally realizes how important it is, into water. Water baptism is an object lesson that our old sin nature and old way of life are dead and buried in union with Christ’s death and that we are now risen in union with Christ’s resurrection to live the rest of our earthly lives for Him.

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 (NASB)

The third baptism is the baptism into the Holy Spirit. In this one, Jesus Himself baptizes the believer into the Holy Spirit to empower him or her for service. We will have much more to say about this one later.

Water baptism does not justify a person before God: only the blood of Jesus can do that. Rather water baptism is the obedient and proper response of a grateful and submitted heart to his or her Lord.

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21 (NASB)

Salvation in this verse should not be confused with the new birth or justification. Rather, we are “saved” in the sense of being set apart to God by obeying the Lord in this crucial public declaration of faith, just as we are likewise saved in this fashion every time we obey God, but especially when our obedience results in a bold proclamation of faith in Christ.

In some cultures where Christianity is strongly resisted, such as radical Islamic states, a person can quietly confess Christ at times without repercussion, but when he or she is baptized in water, it is an entirely different matter. Muslims understand that water baptism equates to a radical declaration of allegiance to the Lord Jesus.

No person should take water baptism casually, as if it were merely a step in joining a church. It is a declaration of war upon Satan’s kingdom and a commitment to unflinchingly testify to the gospel even unto death.

As such, water baptism should only be administered to those believers who fully understand what they are doing. It should be a time of celebration and soberness – a celebration that we are taking a big step in our faith journey with the Lord and soberness because we understand that we are truly identifying ourselves with Christ’s death and saying we are willing even to die for our Lord.

Some churches believe that water baptism is what saves us. They confuse the baptism into the body of Christ which happens at the new birth with water baptism. This is just one example of why it is so important for us to understand the teaching regarding spirit, soul, and body.

Other groups make a big deal out of whose name we baptize in. Jesus told us to baptize in the name of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit. The early disciples baptized into the name of Jesus. There is a group which believes that Jesus is the only name into which we must be baptized for it to be valid. This group does not hold a Trinitarian view. Instead, they believe the One God appears in various “modes,” sometimes as Father, sometimes as Son, and at other times as the Spirit. The heresy is called Modalism.

The Scriptures clearly teach that God is One, but that Father, Son, and Spirit are all God and distinct from one another. Hence, we have the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity that is clearly above our comprehension. It is for us to acknowledge but not completely understand, any more than we completely understand how we are composed of body, soul, and spirit – a trinity of its own. There are times when all three persons are present at once, such as at the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:16-17) If the Father and Son are the same, to whom was Jesus praying and calling Father? To whom was Jesus being obedient when he went to the cross? The Spirit was sent by Jesus to empower us to be his witnesses after Jesus ascended into heaven. The Spirit’s presence in our lives is proof that Jesus is the Lord, seated at God’s right hand.

I recommend using the trinitarian formula that Jesus gave us in the Great Commission, but it is also proper to baptize in the name of Jesus as did the first apostles.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion 
  • Has this chapter altered how you view water baptism?
  • Is it clear to you how water baptism differs from being saved by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and his resurrection?
  • If you were previously water baptized, did you understand the commitment you were making?
  • Do you feel the need to be baptized at this time?
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Chapter 47: Lordship Matters – Authority to Heal the Sick

Note: This lesson builds on Lesson 25 – Redemption from Sickness and Disease, which lays out the theological framework for healing. This is more of a practical application.

One of the signs that should accompany the proclamation of the gospel is healing. Jesus instructed his disciples…

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.  Matthew 10:7–8 (NASB95) — 

"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:17-18 (NASB)

Few things make us more desperate for a Savior than being sick, especially when there is nothing that a doctor can do for us. Sickness and disease are products of Adam’s sin, which corrupted creation and introduced death in all its forms. It represents an aberration from God’s original intent. The suffering it brings is a reminder of our weakness and mortality and reveals our need for a Savior.

Healing is a function of God’s mercy and love and reveals his desire to relieve human suffering.

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.  Matthew 14:14 (NASB95) —

In Exodus 15:26, God revealed that one of His names is, “Jehovah Rapha”… “I AM the LORD, who heals you.” The literal translation of this name is: “I AM your healing.” Healing is one of God’s unchanging attributes, and although God’s plans may change, He himself never changes (see Mal. 3:6). If God’s nature was to heal then, it is still His nature to heal today. [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (pp. 37-38). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”  Exodus 15:26 (NASB95) —

In this verse, healing depended on Israel’s obedience. In the New Covenant, however, our healing is directly connected to Christ’s obedience. He earned our healing through his suffering.

Jesus accomplished our healing by the wounds He received during His passion and crucifixion. In other words, healing is part of the atonement.

An unbiased reading of Isaiah 53 can lead to no other conclusion.

Surely he took up our infirmities [literally, sicknesses] and carried our sorrows [literally, pains], yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)

The same Hebrew verbs refer to His carrying our sins and sicknesses. If He carried one away, then He did the same for the other. This interpretation is corroborated by Peter in his first letter.

He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

In order to make it even more clear, the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to write the following, which absolutely links Isaiah 53 to physical healing.

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. All the spirits fled when he commanded them to leave; and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through Isaiah, who said, "He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases." Matthew 8:16-17 (NLT)

Once a debt is paid, it never needs to be paid again. Jesus paid the debt for our sins and purchased our healing in the process.

The gospels link forgiveness to healing. Both are fruit of what Jesus accomplished by his passion, crucifixion, and resurrection.

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”  Mark 2:9–12 (NASB95) —

While it’s true that Jesus used this encounter as a visible demonstration of His authority to forgive sin, it also illustrates the relationship between forgiveness of sin and healing. Jesus has the same authority over both sin and sickness and the grace of God deals with them in the same way. With the same proclamation Jesus forgave the man’s sin and healed him of his sickness. [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (pp. 39-40). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

Jesus perfectly represents God the Father and his heart toward people. (Hebrews 1:3) Since he often healed people during his earthly ministry and commanded his disciples to do the same, we know that is God’s heart and intention.”

And no doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)

[Jesus said…] and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’  Luke 10:9 (NASB95) —

Healing is “…a tangible demonstration of God’s power, love, mercy and compassion, a means of warfare against the kingdom of darkness, a means of making people spiritually, physically and emotionally whole and a way to bring people into a personal relationship with God.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 26). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

Some say that God no longer heals because now we have the written Bible, and we no longer need God to prove the truth of his message by demonstrations of power. The Word of God says, however, that Jesus is always the same.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Hebrews 13:8 (NASB95) —

His compassion for people has not changed. God’s desire to prove the truth of the gospel has not changed. The only difference is that we in the West believe that we only need logical arguments to satisfy our thirst for truth. This is a very “Greek” way of thinking that does not reflect God’s wisdom.

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  1 Corinthians 1:22–24 (NASB95) —

Everyone deeply needs to experience God’s power as well as his truth. That is why Paul operated in both realms when he brought the gospel to people.

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:4–5 (NASB95) —

Healing is kind of a dinner bell calling people to salvation. When healing takes place, people flock to hear the gospel message. Nothing more clearly reveals God’s love and personal interest to a seeker than a physical healing.

When people see that Jesus has the power to heal, they can more readily believe He has the power to deliver their souls from hell, give them eternal life, redeem them for all oppression, and restore them to intimacy with the Father.

Healing not only applies to the body: God also heals the soul (mind, will, emotions). He heals marriages, old hurts and wounds, and areas in which we have been devastated by the devil, other people, or our own sin.

As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”  Psalm 41:4 (NASB95) —

The Good Shepherd loves people and wants the best for us. Those who have his heart for others will feel the same and do as he did.

Jesus is looking for those who will take the gospel and his healing ministry to the lost and dying.

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:35–38 (NASB95) —

Somehow, we have concluded that representatives of Christ should only preach the gospel. I think these verses and others reveal that we are to minister physical and other kinds of healing, too. Is our reluctance to do so because we are afraid of looking foolish if healing does not seem to take place? Are we more concerned about our own reputation than we are determined to properly represent God’s heart to those who need his healing touch?

After His resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Acts of the Apostles records that the early Christians preached the gospel with signs following that confirmed the truth of their words. This has been the pattern for evangelism from the beginning of the church.

Healing and evangelism are inextricably linked.

Healing has been called the “children’s bread,” which refers to Jesus’ conversation with the Syro-Phoenician woman. She begged Jesus to heal her daughter, but Our Lord replied that it was not proper to take the “children’s bread” and cast it to the “dogs,” an analogical and perhaps derogatory term for non-Jewish people. Not to be deterred, this faith-filled woman responded that even the dogs eat the crumbs from the family table. Jesus responded to her humility and persistent faith by granting her request.

From this passage we learn that anyone who comes to the Lord with persistent faith can reasonably expect Him to mercifully heal them and their loved ones. Warning: this is not a law or a rule, but a principle.

This principle of God’s willingness to heal us is confirmed by Jesus’ words to the leper who asked to be healed.

While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.  Luke 5:12–13 (NASB95) —

There is no record of Jesus ever denying someone who asked for healing.

“Jesus healed all who came to Him. No one was turned away. As long as people were willing to be healed, He was willing to heal them. He didn’t heal all who were sick, but rather, He healed all who were willing to be made well.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 41). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

But what about when we pray and healing does not (seem to?) take place? All sorts of theories have been advanced as to why this happens. Some have concluded that the faith of the one seeking healing or the one praying was deficient since healing has been bought and paid for already. Some have looked for other reasons, such as unconfessed sin or other such hindrances.

While all these things may play a factor, I believe it is important for us to acknowledge that sometimes we simply do not know why some are not healed.

We should not “blame” the unhealed person or the minister for not having enough faith, even though that may be the case. The blame game belongs to the devil, the Accuser of the Brethren, and could put us in the same camp as Job’s friends who said that his suffering was a punishment for his sin, when that was not the case at all. God was simply dealing with Job in an incomprehensible way. It was only at the end that it became clear what God had accomplished through Job’s suffering.

We need to disassociate ourselves from looking for deficiencies in ourselves and others. Instead, it is important for us to see ourselves as Christ’s representatives.

“The key to operating in the power of God is in knowing your identity in Christ and knowing how He wants to work in you. You must shed the false identities you’ve accepted from man and receive the identity given to you by God.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 52). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

When it comes to healing, our primary responsibility always is to love people, trust God, and hold on to what the Bible teaches, regardless of the perceived outcome.

We will never go wrong if we seek to bring glory and honor to our Lord by our attitude, words, and actions. The one who endures the adversity of apparently not being healed and does not complain or accuse God perhaps glorifies God more than the person who experiences physical healing. Who is sufficient for these things?

If we are suffering from sickness, the first thing we can do is fully surrender to God and ask Him to glorify Himself through our lives and our present situation. I believe by so doing we maximize our ability to hear His voice, know His will, and believe His Word.

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.  1 Peter 2:24 (NASB95) —

The truth is that we already have been healed, whether it appears so or not. The price was fully paid at Calvary.

Faith receives our healing immediately without waiting for any outward manifestation. Nevertheless, the timing and method of our experiencing that healing lies entirely with God.

We still live in a fallen world. Everyone is destined to die, barring Christ’s return before that happens. (Hebrews 9:27) The most perfect expression of healing will take place at the resurrection when these mortal bodies will be replaced by spiritual ones that will never get sick or die. Until then, we live in a sin-scarred world having bodies that are still subject to the effects of Adam’s sin. Our spirits are made perfect at the new birth. Our souls are being transformed day by day, but our bodies will not be perfected until the resurrection. This means we must be okay ministering inside the tension created by the “already / not yet” aspect of the kingdom of God.

Christ already paid the price for our healing, but we don’t always see an immediate result when we pray. However, our faith always rests upon the completed aspect of healing.

Here are some practical tips for praying for the sick.

  1. Practically speaking, we should expect that God will heal each time we pray.
  1. Teach those receiving ministry that they play a part, too.
    • They can ask for healing,
    • Believe for healing,
    • Receive their healing, and
    • Thank God for their healing. All of which requires faith and an open heart.
  1. Prior to praying, it might be advisable to share some Bible verses with the sick person to elevate his or her faith. Remind the one receiving ministry that…
    • One of God’s compound names is the Lord who heals us. It is his nature to heal.
    • Jesus already paid the price for our healing.
    • Jesus further revealed God’s desire to heal us by healing everyone who came to him.
    • Faith receives immediately what God promised before it ever sees any evidence. Faith is the evidence. (Hebrews 11:1)
    • Remember that our faith rests on the promises of God made effective by the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of our Lord Jesus.

We must understand that the power to heal resides with us. It is true that the power does not originate in us. It comes from God. But it comes to us and is released through us by the power of the Holy Spirit operating in us. We are something like portable power stations walking the earth. How marvelous it is that He has placed His treasure in these very earthen vessels. [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 84). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.] 

  1. Worship is always a good thing. It brings the sick person and the one praying into the manifest presence of God. “God’s glory brings healing, deliverance, creative miracles, and much more into existence. Wherever God’s presence is manifested in this way, heaven touches earth.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 94). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]
  1. Ask the Holy Spirit for any specific instructions.

“To operate successfully in healing it’s imperative to establish a strong, active relationship with the Holy Spirit. All that we do must be led and powered by the Spirit of God.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 103). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.] 

“Always invite the Holy Spirit to lead the healing encounter and allow Him to do with the person what He wants done. Ministry with the Holy Spirit is a dance. He leads and we follow.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 105). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

“A word of knowledge may be given to encourage us to pray for a condition we wouldn’t normally have faith to heal. One of the first words of knowledge I received was for a man with Lou Gehrig’s disease. At this point in my life I had no faith that I’d ever see this condition healed. When I gave the word to him and his wife, it boosted their hope.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 118). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.] 

“If you’d like to receive words of knowledge, ask God to reveal things to you and spend time getting to know His ways. The revelation gifts are relational and time is the commodity of relationships.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 119). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

  1. It is a good idea to lay hands upon the sick, since Jesus often did it that way and the Bible encourages us to do the same. (Mark 16:18) The only place we are instructed to anoint with oil is in a command to elders in the church. (James 5:14)
  1. When we pray for the sick, we should do so aloud with confidence, more in the way of a command than a petition. We represent Christ and enforce his victory by using our God-given authority to speak words of liberation.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;  Isaiah 61:1 (NASB95) —
  1. It is okay to pray more than once for a particular issue. Jesus did so in the case of the blind man who was only partially healed at first.
Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” 25 Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.  Mark 8:23–25 (NASB95) —

 “Among my friends who have the highest success rates in healing, there is agreement on one approach that seems to work best. It involves commanding sickness or pain to leave and commanding healing to take its place. Don’t beg or plead with God to heal anyone. The most common mistake people make is begging God to heal. The second is quitting too soon. Persistence brings breakthrough. You’ll have to get used to a little embarrassment. You may look a bit foolish repeatedly commanding a broken leg to be healed when there is no outward sign that it’s helping. Yet the vast majority of healings I’ve seen came because I stood there looking like an idiot, repeatedly commanding an injury to be healed until it finally was healed.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (pp. 107-108). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

“When I started seeing people healed, most of it came after four or five times of commanding healing to happen. Be persistent and don’t quit. If you see any change in symptoms or severity of pain after four or five times, keep going. You’re making progress. If you see any change at all, you can eventually get it to go away completely.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (pp. 108-109). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

  1. Consider the possibility that an evil spirit of infirmity might be present. We handle that by casting it out.

“If healing is going poorly consider the possibility that a spirit is present that must be removed.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 108). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.] 

“When praying with someone, if they suddenly experience pain they didn’t have before, or if a present sensation of pain moves to another part of the body or becomes worse, it’s a sure sign that an evil spirit is manifesting. Demons sometimes manifest to frighten their host. If the demon can create enough fear in the mind of its host they may ask you to stop praying for them, thinking you’re only making things worse. My advice in these cases is to tell them there is a spirit present and the increased pain is a tactic it’s using to frighten them. Ask if you may continue and reassure them it will eventually leave.” [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (pp. 163-164). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

“If someone receives prayer from multiple people with a good track record for healing and no progress is being made, it almost certainly points to a demonic presence that hasn’t been dealt with.”  [Medic, Praying. Divine Healing Made Simple (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) (p. 219). Inkity Press. Kindle Edition.]

  1. We should not be afraid to ask the person if they experienced healing after we pray. We may discover that the person was completely healed, only partially healed, or nothing seemed to happen. Our attitude should be to stick with it as long as it takes as long as the recipient is willing. Just listen to the Lord and do what he says. Once I prayed for my wife to be healed of a headache. Afterward I asked her if it was gone. She said no, so I prayed again. The second time it left immediately.

Refuse to be embarrassed if nothing seems to happen. Our reputation is not on the line. God’s is, and he can handle it.

If after repeated prayer, no healing seems to take place, I usually tell the person to keep believing because every healing is not instantaneous.

We must also keep in mind that eventually we all will die.

Healing is always a temporary fix at best. The resurrection is the final solution for these mortal bodies, which are wearing out and proceeding inexorably toward death.

May God be glorified by our faith in His promises and our trust in his loving kindness, wisdom, and sovereign power, no matter what. May we glorify God by receiving our healing by faith and by trusting him even if we do not experience healing in this life. May the gospel be confirmed by the bold pronouncement of healing in Jesus’ name followed by healing and miracles!

For further reading, I recommend two other books. Christ the Healer by F.F. Bosworth and Divine Healing Made Simple by the Praying Medic (Dave Hayes).

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  1. Have you ever seen someone receive instantaneous healing?
  2. Have you ever prayed for someone who was healed?
  3. Do you have any fears or misgivings regarding praying for the sick?
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