Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Bible, Disobedience, God's Will, Hate, Hatred, Scripture

HATERS OF GOD

ROMANS 1:30

“slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,”

I have known some people who truly hated God. They blamed Him for every bad thing that happened to them. They couldn’t love a God “that allowed that sort of thing.” The fact of the matter is, we were all haters of God until we came to salvation. Living lives opposed to His law makes us haters, according to Scripture. I could have taken any one of the words mentioned in today’s verse, but this one really explains them all.

Paul says these individuals he has been discussing for the past several verses were indeed “haters of God.” The word for “haters” is theostygḗs and is used only here in Romans 1:30. HELPS Word studies says it is “derived from theós, ‘God’ and stygeō, ‘abhor’ – properly, to abhor God (His will). This rare term refers to people who totally turn against the Lord.” A person who fits this category is capable of any of the words mentioned in verse 29 and 30.

APPLICATION

In John 3:20 Jesus says this about these haters of God. “‘For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.’” Darkness is used to try to hide our behaviors. I can name all kinds of sin that are done in the cloak of darkness. But God sees through the darkness, does He not?

Jesus tells us in John 7:7, “‘The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that its deeds are evil.’” When we expose the deeds done in the darkness, the evil will come against us with fangs bared and snarling. Our ministry has seen that all over the world as we have taught men how to come out of the darkness and live in the light. The haters of God do not want this. They want to keep us enslaved to our sins and in their camp as haters of God.

In one more verse from John, Jesus warns us in John 15:18 that, “‘If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.’” Don’t be surprised if you get called names and attacked for living a godly life. Don’t be shocked at the behaviors of others, even some in the church who are living according to God’s will, when you confront their sin. We have a responsibility though to share the truth and let God do the convicting. Their hatred of Him does not surprise Him, nor does it lessen His love for them. We should respond likewise.

Father, allow me to be Your vessel in this ongoing battle against those who hate You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Evil, Lifestyles, Scripture, Unrighteousness, Wickedness

NOT A PRETTY LIST

ROMANS 1:29

“people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips,” 

I have often made pros and cons lists when I needed to make a decision. It could be about a move somewhere or trying to decide about a new job. I know some people who have those kinds of lists about whom they will date. It doesn’t make much sense to make a decision when the cons outweigh the pros, right? Aren’t you glad God didn’t weigh us that way?

In today’s verse, Paul begins a list that is pretty bad. It’s a list of behaviors and lifestyles that go against every fabric of decency, much less any sort of godliness. Now, before you start judging people over these behaviors, remember that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Our job as believers is to walk in such a way that we avoid these behaviors. The key to the verse is the participle verb at the beginning, “having been filled.” Let’s look at that.

APPLICATION

“Having been filled” is from the Greek verb pléroó. It can be translated as “to fully, completely fill, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), (figuratively) to fully supply, satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction).” (Lexical Summary) So, you see it can have lots of meanings. Barnes says about this phrase, “Being filled – That is, the things which he specifies were common or abounded among them. This is a strong phrase, denoting that these things were so often practiced as that it might be said they were full of them. We have a phrase like this still, when we say of one that he is full of mischief, etc.”

These were not one-time events in these people’s lives. This was their lifestyle. We all sin. We all fail. But we cannot stay there. We can’t remain in the sin. We can’t continue in the sin “that so easily entangles us.” I once talked with a guy who “slipped” four times and had sex with women other than his wife. And he couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t forgive him. Lifestyles matter when it comes to living for Jesus. Amen?

I don’t really need to go through the list of things Paul mentions here. You can look all those up if you want further explanations of them. The point I want to make is we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not hedonistic lifestyles. We need to be filled with the motive to glorify Jesus in all we do, not glorify our own fleshly appetites. What or Who is filling you today?

Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench the thirsting of my soul.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, God's Will, Goodness, Proven, Scripture, Testing

DIDN’T SEE FIT

ROMANS 1:28

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper,”

I like that phrase in today’s verse, “did not see fit.” Sometimes I just don’t see fit to do certain things. Maybe I have no interest in it, like crocheting or swimming with sharks (yikes). Maybe I don’t have extra time so I “don’t see fit” to take on an extra task at the moment. As I pondered this verse, however, I discovered that the Greek word for this phrase has a much heavier meaning.

Paul uses the Greek verb dokimazo, which according to HELPS Word studies means “(to approve by testing)” and “is done to demonstrate what is good, i.e. passes the necessary test. Dokimázō does not focus on disproving something (i.e. to show it is bad).” That changes the whole meaning of the verse, doesn’t it? It was not that these individuals Paul has been discussing didn’t get around to acknowledging God. They did not allow God to prove His goodness to them.

APPLICATION

Dokimázō is used in Romans 12:2 which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” I just love that verse. We show the goodness of God in His will. That’s not hard if we just submit to Him.

Over in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul uses the word again. “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.” Look at that again. God approves us and thereby gives us His gospel to share with others. What a blessing and responsibility.

We should be about showing the goodness of God every day. We should live out that Greek word used here, dokimázō. That should be our goal every day. Proving the goodness of God isn’t hard. Just show people what God has done in your life. Boy, I could talk for ages about that. Even through the hard times, God’s goodness shone through. Prove God good today!

God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Desires, Fire, God's Will, Godliness, Scripture, Ungodly

OUT OF CONTROL

ROMANS 1:27

“and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations with women and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing shameful acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”

It seems every year we see reports of wildfires that burn out of control. Many of these are started by lightning strikes that ignite dry vegetation. When fueled by strong winds, these fires can burn hundreds, if not thousands of acres of land, including homes and businesses. Uncontrolled fires cause a lot of damage. So do uncontrolled passions, as we will see today.

Paul continues the thought began in verse 26. Both males and females were “burning” in their passions for the same sex. The resulting carnage from these choices, Paul says, is they were “receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” Let me repeat what I said yesterday. This sin confronted by Paul here is no worse than other sins we commit that go against God’s Word. All sin has consequences. Paul is truly addressing the fact that disregard of God’s truth leads to uncontrolled passions and desires that lead us astray.

APPLICATION

The Greek word used here for “burned” is only used here in the New Testament. It means to inflame deeply. The Topical Lexicon says this about ekkaiō. It “depicts a fierce, consuming flame of emotion rather than a literal fire. The picture is of desire ignited from within until it blazes out of control, suggesting both intensity and inevitability once the spark is lit.” Can’t you just see that wildfire?

I am reminded of James 3:6. “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” The idea of the ungodly passions burning is the same. This is indeed a deceit of the evil one. He wants to distort the godly and make it ungodly.

For any fire to end, it must be confronted with a force to extinguish it. For ungodly passions to be extinguished, they must be confronted with truth. The washing with the water of the Word will put out these wrong fires. God’s Word will extinguish any sin in our lives if we will live by it. It has the power. It will purify us and wash away the stain of sin. Are you washing yourself with the Word today?

Father God, wash me today with the water of Your Word so that I can walk with You unashamed and holy.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Dishonoring, Glorify, Lies, Scripture, Sexuality, Truth

DISHONORING

ROMANS 1:26

“For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature,”

This is a tough verse and one that easily ignites strong feelings, either way. But let me remind you that I did not write this. Nor did I pick it out of the air to write on today. In the course of taking Romans verse by verse, we had to come to this verse. So, without trying to enflame people, let me address God’s Word on this subject which must be talked about in light of His truth.

You really need to go back and reread verses 18-25 to remember who Paul is talking about here. This was a behavior prevalent in the pagan world. Even back then people were deceived regarding their sexuality. What He had intended from the beginning when He created man and woman was dishonored. That’s the word Paul uses here – degrading or dishonored. It’s the Greek word atimia which can be translated as dishonor, reproach, shame or vile. In this verse, Paul writes that it is a shame or dishonoring for women to turn the natural order upside down.

APPLICATION

Nothing has brought as much division in the body of Christ in the past few decades as this topic. Some churches embrace the freedom of sexuality. Others try to shame people into repentance. We must remember that the sin of rejecting God’s plan for sexuality is no bigger sin that adultery or drunkenness or…you feel in the blank. I know Jesus embraces those who practice this lifestyle but does not condone their behavior. You can truly hate the sin but love the sinner.

This word is also used in Romans 11:14 when Paul addresses the length of a man’s hair. “Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,…” We don’t talk about this, do we? Paul is simply addressing the natural order compared to what has been perverted by man. We have to remember that our purpose is to bring glory to God. Anything that goes against that is dishonoring and shameful.

The main point of this verse today is not the particular sin Paul points out. It is the fact that God will not force us to comply. He will give us up to our passions and allow us to reap the consequences. He is able to spare us this suffering, but He will not make us do anything. What are you bucking God about right now? We all need to yield to His direction. We all can be more obedient in our walk with Him, can’t we?

O Lord, help me to not point fingers and accuse others of their sin while at the same time wallowing in my own.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Idols, Reverence, Scripture, Service, Worship

WHAT ARE YOU WORSHIPPING?

ROMANS 1:25

“For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Man, we can really worship the wrong things. Some of us worship our sports teams. As we enter into the Fall, football here in America is kicking off. It’s played by all ages and billions are spent to play and watch. Some people plan their whole lives around the game. Those same people wouldn’t put church on their schedule, though, or make time to pray and read God’s Word. Wrong worship!

Until I dug into this verse, I did not know the Greek word for “worshiped” was sebazomai, which only occurs here in this verse. It’s a different kind of word for worship. HELPS Word studies says it means, “to revere; be in awe by one’s own twisted definition of what deserves reverence.” It is clear that Paul is saying that even though these individuals are totally confused, they still have the desire to worship something. It’s just sad that it’s the wrong thing.

APPLICATION

So, my question for you today is – What are you worshipping? Well Carl, of course I am worshipping the Lord. What else would I worship? Oh really? Are you sure that is all? How about that job? Do work to live or live to work? So many of us can be so driven by our job ambitions that we put everything else on the back burner. Family time suffers. Church attendance is low on the priority list. What are we worshipping?

I receive a newsletter each month from “Voice of the Martyrs.” In it are stories of Christians under persecution for worshipping Jesus. They risk it all to serve the Lord. Many, if not most, have lost loved ones to terrorist who killed them just because they were Christians. And we can’t worship correctly? What a shame!

I want to ask you today to take a look at what you are worshipping? How much time are you spending with Jesus each day. Martin Luther once said, “I am so busy today I only have time to spend four hours in prayer.” How about you? We are told to worship in Spirit and in truth. Are we doing that?

Father, show me how to worship You in truth every day. Let me not waste time worshipping false gods in my life.  

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Consequences, Damnation, Eternal Life, Eternity, Scripture, Sin

GIVEN UP

ROMANS 1:24

Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.”

There’s this funny video on Social Media in which a mother and her young son are debating whether her son should be allowed to take a spoonful of Hershey chocolate. Now, I’m not talking about cocoa for hot chocolate. I mean the kind you cook with which is very bitter. The boy insists he wants to try it. The mother has told him repeatedly he would not like it, but after constant begging, she “gives him up” to his own decision. Of course, you know the result. The boy takes a big spoonful and instantly regrets his decision.

That is exactly what God does to these unrepentant people Paul is describing. God will not force us to believe or follow His commands. The verb Paul uses here for “gave them up” is a common verb used 120 times in the New Testament. Paul uses it three times in verses 24-28 of Romans 1. Some definitions of this word are “to yield up, bring forth, cast, and deliver up.” The Greek word is paradídōmi from pará, (close-beside) and dídōmi, (give). This implies God had to be close beside to hand them over. Hmmm!

APPLICATION

One of the most powerful ways this word is used is in Romans 8:32 where Paul writes, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” The verb “delivered…over” is the same word we see in today’s verse. God did not spare His own Son, even for those who spurn the gift. These individuals could have changed course and come to God. I wonder if that happened to any those Paul is writing about.

God does not play games with us. If we won’t repent and turn to Him, the end is sure. Our sins will keep us out of heaven. Not everyone goes to heaven, contrary to popular belief. We can’t sit in judgment and know whether a person is saved or not. But we are able to see the fruit of their lives and know whether they are walking with Him daily. This is a hard truth and one many don’t want to hear.

Our choices have consequences – eternal consequences. This verse is for each of us today. We need to ponder a minute where we are with the Lord. I know that I know that I know that I am saved by the blood of the Lamb and will spend eternity with Him. How about you? Are you sure? You can be. God has a special place prepared for every believer. Is your reservation booked?

Lord God, I am thankful Your Holy Spirit did a work in my life and drew me to You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Decisions, Glory, Image, Scripture, Wisdom

BAD DEAL

ROMANS 1:23

“and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures.”

Have you ever made a bad deal, one you wish later you had never done? I sure have. I’ve sold trucks I wish I had kept. I gotten rid of tools that I needed later. Most of those decisions were made by me without seeking the advice of anyone. It is so important to weigh out important decisions before making them. We have to look at the long term implications, don’t we?

Well, these individuals which Paul is referring to in today’s verse had made a terrible deal. They “exchanged” God’s glory for a manmade idol. The Greek word translated as “exchanged” is allassó. Look how the Topical Lexicon describes it. “Strong’s embraces the idea of an exchange or change—sometimes glorious, sometimes disastrous—depending on the context in which the verb appears. Across its six New Testament occurrences the term frames two great biblical polarities: (1) the fatal trade of God’s glory for idols and (2) the gracious transformation of people, customs and even the created order under the hand of God.” Let’s take a look at and another use for allassó.

APPLICATION

Probably one of the most quoted and utilized passages using allassó is found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. “51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (On a funny note, I’ve seen the last part of verse 51 hanging in a lot of church nurseries, lol) 

Change is not a bad thing if it’s done right. We will be changed one day into a glorious image which will be with the Lord forever. That’s a lot different than giving up that glory of God for an idol, isn’t it? If we give up what God has given us, we are on the wrong side of that deal. Now, I am not saying a true believer and follower of Christ can “unsave” themselves. They didn’t save themselves to begin with. But we can make horrible decisions that mar our testimony and injure our walk. Bad deals.

None of us have arrived, have we? We can all still continue to make good changes to become more like Christ. We can change behaviors that may lead us into sin. We can change friends who are not good influences. Change may mean making some hard decisions. Make sure any change you make is God-centered.

Lord, today help me make the changes I need to make to be more like Your Son, Jesus.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Claims, Foolishness, Fools, Scripture

FALSE CLAIMS

ROMANS 1:22

“Claiming to be wise, they became fools,”

People claim stuff all the time. They claim to be someone they’re not. They claim to have stuff they don’t. They even claim to have certain college degrees or experience which they don’t. False claims are like that leaky bucket you’ve tried to use – they just don’t hold water. The truth always comes out in the end.

Paul is still addressing these confused, dark hearted individuals in today’s verse. He uses a word for “claiming” that is only used two other times in the New Testament, both in the book of Acts (24:9; 25:19). The word comes from the Greek word phemi which means “see there.” It can be translated as “affirm.” It has the idea of putting one statement over others. It’s close to boasting but look at the result in this verse. “Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” Wow! That’s a turnaround, isn’t it?

APPLICATION

We need to make sure what we say is true. These individuals thought they had all the answers but were dead wrong. The word for “fools” is mórainó. It’s the same word Paul uses in 1 Corinithians 1:20d, “Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?” The greatest minds known to mankind are fools in comparison to the wisdom of God.

We get our word “moron” from the root of this word. Have you ever been called a moron or heard someone else called that? It’s pretty demeaning, isn’t it? It means that person is dull or stupid. Most of the time they aren’t. They are just confused about the truth of the situation or lack the knowledge or experience to do what is asked.

There is a verse we memorize in our ministry (Every Man A Warrior) that talks about this. It’s Proverbs 18:13. “He who answers before listening, that is his folly and his shame.” We all need to listen well and speak only the truth. Everything else is folly. That’s what Paul is saying in today’s verse. They trusted their own intellect or traditions over the truth from God’s Word. That will make any of us fools. I had rather be a fool for Jesus.

Lord, help me live today trusting everything You say.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Darkness, Foolishness, Heart, Scripture, Sin

DARK HEARTS

ROMANS 1:21

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.”

Almost every day we read headlines of another senseless murder. Yesterday, I read about a couple who were killed while on a hike with their two young daughters (thankfully, they were spared). As I write the killer is still at large. What a dark, dark heart, full of evil, to do such a thing. They not only took two innocent lives, but they also left two young girls without their parents. I only pray they did not witness the brutality.

Paul writes about these dark hearts in today’s verse. The word translated as “senseless” can also be translated as “wicked” or “without understanding.” And the word for “were darkened” is always used to refer to sin or judgment. It’s the word skotizó and refers to the absence of the light of Christ. Thanks be to God, we know how to rid the world of that darkness – the eternal light of God displayed through His Son, Jesus.

APPLICATION

In Romans 11:10, Paul uses skotizó again when he quotes Psalm 69:23 to describe the darkening of the minds of Israel. “‘MAY THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS CONTINUALLY.’” Israel refused to see Jesus as their Messiah, but long before that they had darkened their eyes to the light of God. We see that even today in the nation of Israel. Many there are Jewish by birth but not in heart. They have become darkened to God.

I am not disrespecting the nation of Israel. America is no better. We have long proclaimed ourselves as a Christian nation, but many in our country have darkened their hearts to God. So, I am not pointing fingers at Israel. This is true for mankind in general. What’s the cure for this darkness? The light of Christ, as I said earlier.

How’s your heart today? Is it dark with the unconfessed sins of your past or is it full of light? You have heard it said, “Confession is good for the soul.” Well, confession also erases the darkness and allow the light of Christ to shine, not only in you but also on others. Let your light shine today.

Father, erase the darkness of my soul and fill me with Your inexhaustible light!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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