by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 23rd, 2008
In Psalm 127:3-5, Solomon tells us the blessings of being a parent. He describes children as arrows in a warrior’s quiver. In times past, arrows have been used to win many battles, put meat on the table, and win competitions. Diligence and focus, however, are required for an arrow to hit its mark. Like arrows, our children may not hit the marks we want if we are not diligent raising them in the Lord. Let’s consider three ways we need to raise our children like arrows.
First, we need to take aim. No one pulls back the arrow and lets it fly willy-nilly expecting it to hit anything useful. Yet, many parents raise their children with no goal or aim in mind. They hope their child will be faithful, they hope their child will marry a Christian spouse, but hope is all they do. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go.” We need to have a goal in raising our children. If we want them to be faithful, we need to train them to be faithful. If we want them to make godly decisions, we must train them how to do so. We must be diligent to train our children, discipline them, and set an example for them.
Second, we need to prepare for ill winds. No matter how well you focus on a goal, a bad wind can blow your arrow off course. It is the same with children. 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us “bad company corrupts good morals.” All the training and work we have done with our children can be destroyed if we allow them to hang around with a bad crowd. We need to be aware of our kids friends—who they are, what they are like, how they treat your child. If they are not a positive influence, we need to have the courage to take a stand and remove that influence. Remember, it is with discipline—which can be momentarily painful—that we love our children, not by letting them do whatever they want (Hebrews 12:8-11).
Third, we need to release the arrow. An arrow does not accomplish anything sitting in a quiver. It must be drawn and released to accomplish its purpose. Parents who try to keep their children under their protective wing too long do a disservice to their children. They make the child reliant upon them and the child is unable to function as an adult. We have been told not to exasperate our children (Ephesians 6:4). Can you think of anything more frustrating than being trained for a purpose, but not allowed accomplish it? Or being trained to make decisions, but not being trusted enough to make them? As our children reach the teenage years, we need to show them increasing trust and respect to see how they will handle being on their own. This will give them the confidence and skills they need to live on their own.
Children are a blessing from the Lord; they are precious and valuable. We need to treat them accordingly. We should have spiritual goals in mind and work with them towards those goals. We need to set good examples for them and encourage positive role models and friends. In addition, we need to show them trust and respect so they can live life with confidence.
Tags: archery, arrows, bad company, children, discipline, faithful, focus, goals, kids, parents, Proverbs 22:6, Psalm, quiver, raising, Solomon
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 20th, 2008
Growing up I had a drug problem. I was drug out of bed to go to school every weekday. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to church every Sunday morning. I was drug back on Sunday nights. I was even drug to Wednesday night Bible classes. I was drug out the door for disciplining when I was disrespectful in church services. I was drug to VBS, potlucks, devotionals, and to visit other Christians. Those drugs are still in my veins; they affect my behavior in everything I do, say and think. I am always thankful for my parents who gave me my drug problem (adapted from Internet).
Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Sometimes we do not realize the impact of our actions and examples on our children. Studies of attendance patterns suggest children of parents who typically missed one service a week would miss two when they were out of the home. Those with parents who missed two services, missed three. Can you guess the attendance pattern of children whose parents only went to one service? Our actions and examples are important. The training we give our children today will influence them the rest of their lives.
Often it seems the problem is we do not see the value of assembling together. We say to ourselves: It’s boring. I don’t get anything out of it. I’m tired. What we need to ask ourselves is what are we putting in to it? Are we coming to be entertained or to praise and worship the God who graciously saved us from our sins—the God who blesses us with food on the table, and shelter from the elements? We need to realize that worship is not about receiving, but giving. It is with this attitude that we will find value in church services.
Even if we get nothing out of services, our presence is an encouragement to others. Hebrews 10:23-25 says it is through our assemblies that we stimulate one another towards love and good deeds and encourage each other to hold fast until the day of Christ. In those days, some were in the habit of forsaking this assembly. That habit changed an encouraging situation into a discouraging situation. Christians coming to recharge themselves spiritual to stay faithful in a wicked world instead saw empty seats.
We need to realize the value of assembling together and give our children a drug problem that will affect them the rest of their lives.
Tags: apostasy, Bible, children, church attendance, class, drugs, examples, faithful living, falling away, father, mother, parents, service, spiritual training, staying faithful, teaching
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 16th, 2008
There is man that is in the thoughts of thousands of people, even though they do not know his name and have never met him. He is frequently mentioned in Bible studies. Usually, he comes up after studying about the gospel and hearing that the obedience of faith is necessary for salvation. Someone will ask: “What about some guy in the deepest darkest jungles of Africa who does not have a Bible?” What about this man? Will God condemn him even though he never heard His word? Would an all-loving God be just to condemn this man who has never read a Bible?
In Romans 1:18-20, Paul writes that God will pour out His wrath on all ungodliness and unrighteousness. He writes in universal terms; there are no exceptions. God is just in His condemnation, however, because He has made His presence known through His Creation. That man in the deepest darkest jungle of Africa can look at the world around him. He can see design in his body, in the trees, and the creatures around him. He can come to the conclusion: there must be a designer. No one is outside of creation. Everyone has the evidence of God right before their eyes. Men are without excuse no matter where they live—even in the deepest darkest jungle of Africa.
After coming to the conclusion there is a higher power and designer of the world around him, that man in the jungles of Africa may make the decision to try to learn more about that power and His will. If he truly seeks God, God will provide answers for that man. Matthew 7:7 tells us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” This is a promise given by God, one that far too many people have minimized. God has promised that truth seekers will be truth finders. In Acts 8, the Ethiopian Eunuch was on a desert road in the middle of nowhere, but God sent Philip to him and he was saved. Likewise, some way, some how God will make His will known to that man in the deepest darkest jungle of Africa. Maybe a missionary will find him. Maybe he will move to a city. Maybe a Bible in his translation will fall from a plane into his hands. We do not know how God may fulfill His promise, but we can be assured that the promise will be fulfilled.
God is declaring that all men everywhere repent (Acts 17:30). He has given man the ability to do this if man has the inclination and the desire to do so. We do not need to worry about that man in the deepest darkest jungles of Africa. God will take care of him. We need to take care of our own salvation and problems before we worry about another’s (Matthew 7:1-7).
Tags: Acts, Africa, Christian evidences, condemnation, darkest, deepest, desert, Ethiopian, Eunuch, faith, God, Gospel, inspiration, Jesus, judgment, jungle, man, Matthew, nowhere, obedience, promises, revelation, Romans, Salvation, theology
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 12th, 2008
Mark (also called John) started off as a disciple of Jesus on fire and very bold. Scholars believe Mark humbly recorded his actions during the arrest of Jesus in Mark 14:50-52. He would have been very young at this point, but while the apostles were fleeing, he was following Jesus—and naked at that! Only when they tried to seize him did he flee. His zeal is shown later in his life when he returns to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas after they delivered the contribution to help the saints in Jerusalem. Then, he accompanied them on their first missionary journey to help and serve them (Acts 13:5).
On this journey, however, Mark’s zeal seemed to fade. He ends up deserting Paul and Barnabas and returning to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). We are not sure why. Some think he missed his mother or was concerned about her health (cf. Acts 12:12). Some think the inconvenience of traveling or dangers on the road ahead discouraged him. Whatever the reason, Paul considered it ignoble and a defect. In Acts 15:36-41, Paul refuses to take Mark on his second missionary journey because he did not want to take a man who had not gone to the work.
Would Paul take you on one of his missions? When there was work to be done Mark was missing in action. The same is true of many of us today. When it comes to attending church services, cleaning the building, helping our fellow Christian are we missing in action? Can we truly say that we have gone to the work? Like, Mark we often start our race strong, but falter along the way. We may falter over health concerns, money, boredom, or even sports. Whatever the reason may be, it shows misplaced priorities. God’s Kingdom and its work should come first (cf. Matthew 6:33). Too often workers in the church are missing in action.
Mark’s story, however, has a good ending. He changed his ways and Paul refers to him as a fellow worker (Colossians 4:10, Philemon 24). Near the end of his life Paul even says Mark is useful to him (2 Timothy 4:11). Mark has been useful to us today as well by writing the Gospel of Mark. What made the difference in Mark’s life was apparently not any great skill or knowledge, but merely being there and be willing to pitch in. If we are willing to be present and to work, God can accomplish great works through us.
Tags: Barnabas, Christian living, Mark, missionaries, Paul, zeal
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 9th, 2008
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Beware of what you set your mind on for that you will surely become.” Sometimes when we look at ourselves we do not see what we can become with God’s help; we see only our own weaknesses and the flaws. By dwelling on these we become weaker and more flawed. Consider the Israelites in Numbers 13:31-14:4. They did not think they were up able to conquer the Promised Land. They thought of themselves as grasshoppers facing giants and so they were. Lets examine three attitudes that brought about their downfall.
First, an “I can’t do it” attitude (13:31-14:1). They said the people were too strong and they were too weak. They were dwelling on their shortcomings rather than having faith in God. So what if their enemies were bigger and stronger? They had God on their side! We often dwell on our own abilities when we should be looking to God. Consider some of following attitudes towards God’s commands: “I don’t see how that will work,” “I don’t have the strength to change,” or “I don’t know enough to reach out to others, teach, preach, or lead prayers.” Is anything impossible with God? Instead of an “I can’t do it” attitude, we need to have Paul’s attitude in 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Second, an “I’d rather die” attitude (14:2). The people were wishing they had died in the wilderness so they would not have had to come against the men of Canaan. This attitude stems from continued faithlessness. They would rather die than follow God’s commands. They had rejected God’s leaders. This attitude is shared by many today. Consider the following statements: “If that’s what the Bible says, I don’t want anything to do with God,” “I just can’t accept a God who would condemn someone to hell,” “I just can’t accept a God who would allow (fill in the tragic event) to happen,” or “I just can’t believe my parents are not saved.” Many people profess to be willing to die for God, but very few seem willing to live for God (cf. Romans 12:1-2).
Third, an “I know a better way” attitude (14:3-4). The Israelites had an inaccurate view of God. They believed God was cruel. They believed it was better to be a slave in Egypt than a servant of God. They rejected God’s plan in favor of their own: to appoint a new leader (not God’s), to start a new plan (not God’s). This is the solution of many today. Some churches have given in to social peer pressure and started changing views towards homosexuality, women’s roles, instrumental music, and baptism. Following social peer pressure is man’s plan, not God’s. This attitude is the way of death (Proverbs 16:25).
The attitudes of the grasshopper are the attitudes of unbelief. Because of their attitude they rejected God’s leadership and plan. Because of their faithlessness they wandered 40 years in the wilderness (14:34), died in the wilderness (14:29), and did not enter the Promised Land (14:30). What makes us think we will turn out any better if we have the same attitudes?
Tags: abortion, Attitude, baptism, Canaan, Christian, Emerson, faith, faithlessness, Giants, God, grasshoppers, homosexuality, instrumental music, Israelites, lesbianism, living, Nephilim, Numbers, Paul, peer pressure, Philippians, Promised Land, proverbs, Ralph Waldo, Romans, service, social, unbelieving, wandering, wilderness, women's roles
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 7th, 2008
Reuter’s Oddly Enough News printed a story last year about a Japanese man who stole 340,000 yen (about $2,300). It qualified as odd news because the man felt sorry for his crime and returned the money two months later—with and additional 10,000 yen for interest! This is certainly odd in the sight of the world, but should not be in the sight of Christians.
Repentance involves more than a feeling of being sorry, it involves action and change as well. In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus tells the Parable of the Two Sons. One son in this story was on the path of disobedience and said he wouldn’t go. Fortunately, he repented and went. He did more than regret saying he would not go, he took action and went. This was the son who did the will of his father. It didn’t matter how he started out, but how he ended up.
Repentance involves more than just stopping sin, it involves replacing it with good. In Ephesians 4:28, Paul says “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” He commands a cessation of the sin: “steal no longer,” but also to replace that action with good and worthy actions: laboring and sharing. When people fail to replace a habitual sin with good, they usually end up slipping back into that sin. When this happens, it is even harder to repent the next time.
We need to consider our sins and how to truly eliminate them from our lives. Then, change our actions from sin to good. Only then have we engaged in repentance as the Bible describes it.
Tags: forgiveness, overcoming, parable of the two sons, repentance, Reuter's Oddly Enough, sin
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 4th, 2008
An unanchored, unmanned boat will only drift aimlessly going wherever the tides or streams take it. It could have been used for great deeds: for travel, for transporting cargo, for catching food to feed the hungry, or simply for entertainment. Drifting, however, it accomplishes nothing and is worthless. No one expects a boat to be useful without effort put into maintaining and directing it. Yet, many seem to think they can put no effort into their spiritual lives, strive for no goals, and still magically become better servants in God’s Kingdom. Just like the boat, if we leave our lives unanchored and unmanned, we will only drift where the tides of life take us and we become worthless.
We need to realize the dangers inherent in drifing. When drifting, a boat never sails upstream or against the tide, and makes no progress. Your spiritual life simply cannot improve while you are drifting, it can only become weaker. As you drift downstream, your speed tends increase. Once you start moving away from Christ, your spiritual life will rapidly deteriorate and it will take that much more effort to get back to where you began. A drifting vessel often ends in shipwreck for itself and sometimes even for others.
Are you drifting? Ask yourself if any of the following signs of drifting fit your life: a decreased desire to study God’s Word and pray, a decreased desire to be with God’s people, a decreased desire to share God’s Word with the world, or an increased enjoyment in worldly pursuits. If any or all of these fit your life, you may be headed dowstream.
The solution: turn around, keep rowing (2 Peter 1:5, 10), watch out for undercurrents (Galatians 5:16-18), and expect to go against the tide (Matthew 7:13-14). Don’t spend your time drifting, watch for the signs and row towards Christ.
Tags: boat, Christian living, daily living, falling away, Jesus, river, sail, ship, staying faithful
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 2nd, 2008
A frequent practice today is to recite “The Lord’s Prayer” (found in Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4). Unfortunately, many do not understand what they are saying and mindlessly repeat Jesus’ words. This is the very practice Jesus is opposing (i.e., meaningless repetition, Matthew 6:7). It is important for us to understand what Jesus is praying for in this passage. Perhaps the most misunderstood piece of this prayer is “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). Is it heaven? Is it the church? What does it mean? In His Sermon the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus explains what He means by connecting two concepts with the Kingdom of God.
First, Jesus connects the coming of God’s Kingdom with the will of God (Matthew 6:10). When Jesus says “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” He is using parallelism saying the same thing in both phrases. God’s rule is well established in heaven. He commands His angels and they obey. Jesus is praying that men will bow to God’s will on earth and let Him reign in their lives. Earlier in Matthew 5:3, Jesus taught it was the poor in spirit who possess the kingdom. Only those who humble themselves and look to God submit to God’s rule on earth. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus teaches that we cannot be a part of God’s Kingdom unless we obey the will of the Father. The kingdom of God looks to the rule of God in the hearts of men, not a physical place.
Second, Jesus connects seeking God’s kingdom with seeking His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Again, Jesus uses parallel concepts in this passage. By seeking God’s kingdom, we seek His righteousness and vice versa. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus taught our righteousness needed to surpass that of the Pharisees’ if we want to be a part of God’s kingdom. Consider that the Pharisees (who were very zealous) had not even submitted themselves to the authority of God! All they were doing was what they wanted and what they thought was right. Seeking righteousness must be a priority in our lives; we must seek it regardless of the cost to our lives (Matthew 5:10). We must seek to be obedient even to what we would regard as minor parts of God’s commands (Matthew 5:19). This is how we seek His righteousness and seek to be a part of His kingdom.
Praying for the coming of God’s kingdom is praying for God’s rule to be established in the hearts of men. If we are going to pray this, we must be willing to submit to God’s will ourselves. This involves searching out God’s will and obeying it to the best of our abilities. If we are not willing to do this, we should not say the words.
It should also be noted that Jesus is not instructing us to recite or repeat this prayer continually. Instead, He taught it as a pattern or example of how to pray. He says “pray in this manner” (Matthew 6:9), not pray this prayer. Praying for God’s will to be done on earth is something we should focus on in our prayers, but we ought not mindlessly repeat “the Lord’s Prayer.”
Tags: Christian living, church, heaven, humble, Jesus, kingdom, kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, Matthew, obedience, poor in spirit, prayer, premillenialism, repetition, Sermon on the Mount, submission, The Lord's Prayer, will
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by Jeremy Sprouse ~ July 1st, 2008
All of us have made mistakes; decisions and poor choices that led us to sin. We sometimes end up feeling humiliated and hopeless. We have a tendency to continually dwell on these mistakes like a pig wallowing in mud. As a result, our spiritual lives stagnate, fester, and become diseased. We come to the conclusion that we cannot live the Christian life God’s Word set before us.
We need to listen to Paul’s inspired instructions. Talking of the goal of perfection in Christ, Paul says: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”(Philippians 3:13-14).
If we are constantly looking at our past and the mistakes we made, we will never reach forward to what lies ahead. In the Bible, to forget means to know longer act on that information. We cannot change the past; we can only resolve to do better in the future.
Instead of continually dwelling on your errors, try the following steps. First, admit your sin to yourself. Second, analyze why you sinned. Third, repent of the sin. This involves: making amends for the sin (if possible), confessing your sins, and developing a plan to avoid that sin in the future. Fourth, trust in the forgiveness of God and go on to live your life.
Following these commands will help us to learn from our mistakes instead of just dwelling on them. Then, we will be able to forget what lies behind and reach for what lies ahead.
Tags: Christian living, forgiveness, future, goals, mistakes, overcoming, past, sin
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