Category Archives: God’s Will

Bible, Creation, Glorify, God's Will, Purpose, Scripture

BY HIS HANDS

COLOSSIANS 1:16

“for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” 

Creation is such an amazing event. We read in Genesis how the Lord spoke everything into existence and then reached down and formed man with His hands. He breathed into him the breath of life. No one evolved into existence. Everything that has ever lived on this earth was the result of God’s interaction. Today’s verse reminds us of this.

Paul took the time to expound on the life we have in Christ. Jesus was there at the very dawn of creation. He was involved in creation. I just love the last phrase of this verse – “all things have been created through Him and for Him.” We not only were His creation. He created us for Himself. Wow! God wanted to make me just like I am. You have heard the expression that God does not make junk. Amen to that. You are special to Him because He chose to create you.

APPLICATION

Barnes speaks of this verse and says this, “the assertion is, that the ‘creative’ power of Christ was exerted on ‘all things.’ It is not in reference to angels only, or to men, or to Jews, or to Gentiles; it is in relation to ‘everything in heaven and in earth;’ that is, to the whole universe.” That kind of covers it, don’t you think?

Why should we, the creation of God, ever doubt His creative work in us? He has made us for a purpose – for His glory. Therefore, all that we do should give glory to Him. So, let me ask you a question. Do you do that? Are you giving Him glory in all that you do? Or are you complaining because your nose is too big or that you are too tall or too short. Remember, God doesn’t make any junk.

Give praise to Him today for creating you in your mother’s womb. Give praise to Him today for making you just like He wanted to – warts and all. Sure, we can all do things to take care of ourselves physically. We can improve our health. But God made you to give Him glory. And if He did that, He expects you to do that.

Father, You are the great Creator. It is You who have made me to glorify You.

Standard
Bible, God's Will, Scripture, Understanding, Wisdom

ALL FILLED UP

COLOSSIANS 1:9

For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” 

This time of the year being “all filled up” has the connotation of being stuffed with turkey, ham, cornbread dressing and pumpkin pie. When is the last time you ate until you were too full? I have learned as I have gotten older to limit what I eat at a meal. My wife and I often will split a meal when we go out to eat. We just don’t want to get “all filled up” and be uncomfortable.

Paul was not talking about eating in today’s verse when he said he was praying for these Colossian believers to “be filled.” No, he was asking the Father to fill them with “the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” That is a good filling. That is a filling worthy of seconds and thirds. That is a filling that we all need on a daily basis. Let’s break this down a bit.

APPLICATION

First, Paul prays they are filled with the knowledge of His will. The Greek word used here for “knowledge” is epignósis. Strong’s Lexicon states that it “refers to a deep, thorough, and precise knowledge. It implies a full understanding or discernment that goes beyond mere factual awareness. In the New Testament, it often denotes a spiritual or moral insight that is granted by God, particularly in the context of knowing Christ and His will.” In other words, Paul didn’t want them to know about God’s will. He wanted them to fully know God’s will.

Then he further defines his prayer. He wants that knowledge to include “all spiritual wisdom.” What does that mean? Paul gives a thorough teaching on God’s wisdom and worldly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Let me just pull out one part of one verse. In verse 20, Paul says, “Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?” In today’s verse, Paul is praying for spiritual wisdom. He prayed specifically. We should too.

Finally, Paul prays for “spiritual…understanding.” Okay, this is where the application really begins. Paul is praying that they not only know God’s will and have godly wisdom, but that they also know how to apply this as mature believers. That’s the idea of this word “understanding.” It’s one thing to know something, but it’s another thing to know how to use that knowledge wisely. That is what Paul is praying. Again, we should pray for the same.

O Lord, give me that same spiritual wisdom and understanding of Your will for my life today.

Standard
Abundance, Bible, Fruit, God's Will, Gospel, Scripture, Unfruitful

FRUIT BEARING

COLOSSIANS 1:6

“which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth;” 

Trees that don’t bear fruit often meet a fatal end. The farmers can’t afford to have a tree take up valuable land and nutrients if isn’t producing fruit. There are so many stories in the Bible about fruit bearing. Jesus told several Himself. In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus tells this parable. “6 And He began telling this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, “Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?” 8 But he answered and said to him, “Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.”’”

The Greek word Paul uses for “bearing fruit” is karpophoreó. Strong’s Lexicon says karpophoreó “is often used metaphorically to refer to the visible results or outcomes of a person’s life or actions, particularly in a spiritual or moral context. The term implies productivity and the manifestation of inner qualities or virtues.” Just as God expected Israel to bear fruit (the image of the fig tree in the parable), He expects us to do the same.

APPLICATION

But Carl, I’m not a preacher. Nobody said you had to be a preacher to bear fruit. Our verse today says the gospel will itself bear fruit, if we will just share it. You don’t win a soul to heaven. God does through the Holy Spirit. You are simply the tool He has chosen to use. If you didn’t realize it already, God still uses people to accomplish His will.

This word karpophoreó is used eight times in the New Testament. Four times it is used in the Gospels (Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20, 28; Luke 8:15) where Jesus is telling the parable of the sower. Paul uses it twice in Romans (7:4, 5) referring to the battle between law and grace producing fruit for life or death. Then finally we have the last two occurrences in Colossians (1:6, 10). We will see verse 10 in a few days.

Why am I telling you all this? Because fruit bearing is important. Take a minute and read John 15. Look at how the vine and branches are meant to produce fruit. We are the branches designed by God to produce fruit for His kingdom. Share the gospel. Share His Word. Tell someone about Jesus this Christmas season and watch how God will produce the fruit.

Forgive me Father, for not being more bold in witnessing about Jesus. Use me to produce fruit for Your kingdom.

Standard
Bible, Following, God's Will, Prayer, Scripture

DOING GOD’S WILL

EPHESIANS 6:6

“not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

I have been required to do some things in my work that I did not agree with. Shocker! They weren’t immoral or illegal (I wouldn’t have done that), but they did go against my view of things. That doesn’t mean I was right, and my boss was wrong. It just means I disagreed with my boss. Nevertheless, because I serve someone greater, I had to submit to my boss’ prerogative. That takes humility, something I am often short of.

As Paul continues his discussion about slaves and masters, don’t forget he is drawing a parallel between us as bondservants of Christ and our obedience to God. Here, especially, in today’s verse, we see that. Paul says at the end of the verse, “doing the will of God from the heart.” That should nail all of us, right? Doing God’s will is not some secret adventure that only a few can discover. No! Every believer is capable of doing this.

APPLICATION

Jesus taught us to pray according to God’s will. In Matthew 6:9-10, we read, “9 ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” If the Son of God sought to obey God’s will, shouldn’t we? We saw Jesus again pray for God’s will to be done while in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:39 it says, “And He went a little beyond them  and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’” 

We see God’s will for our lives in Micah 6:8. “He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Following God’s will is really quite simple. So, why don’t we do it? Because we are fleshly, human beings who think we know what’s best.

Even Paul said in Romans 7:18-20, “18 For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.” This is from one of the godliest men in Scripture who penned half of the New Testament.  We will fail while trying to follow God’s will. But we must continue to strive toward that which comes from Him.

O Lord, forgive me when I fail to listen to Your Holy Spirit Who shows me Your will daily.

Standard
Bible, Family, God's Will, Husbands, Marriage, Scripture, Wives

WIVES AND THEIR HUSBANDS

EPHESIANS 5:22

“Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 is a well-known passage about the roles of a family (wife, husband, child, father). I want to begin by saying that these are God’s words given to Paul through the Holy Spirit to pen for the Ephesians and future generations. You may not like all that is written here. Many people don’t. They claim these thoughts are outdated or irrelevant for today. But do I need to remind you that every single word in the Bible is inspired by God and is profitable? (2 Timothy 3:16-17) So, don’t get mad at me for what Paul is saying. Don’t get mad at Paul. He was just the messenger. Take it up with God.

Paul starts out these verses on family by instructing the wife. I mentioned in yesterday’s blog on 5:21 that some people don’t like the thought of women submitting or subjecting themselves to a man. Go back and read that blog for a further description about that word “subject.” I am not going to rehearse that thought today. Instead, I want you to look at some other verses God gives us on today’s subject. Before we do that, look at the last four words of today’s verse – “as to the Lord.” That is the parameter for the woman’s submission.

APPLICATION

I want to start this application with a quote from Barnes about this verse. Hang with me. It’s kind of long, but I think it is a great view of the text. “Where commands begin ‘in this relation,’ happiness usually ends; and the moment a husband ‘requires’ a wife to do anything, it is usually a signal of departing or departed affection and peace. When there are proper feelings in both parties in this relation there will be no occasion either to command or to obey. There should be such mutual love and confidence, that the known ‘wish’ of the husband should be a law to the wife: and that the known desires of the wife should be the rule which he would approve. A perfect government is that where the known wish of the lawgiver is a sufficient rule to the subject. Such is the government of heaven; and a family on earth should approximate as nearly as possible to that.”

That was pretty good, huh? It’s a mutual thing when it is done as the Lord commands. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, we read this, “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.” The Lord gives us clear roles in family. They are not to be ignored, for when they are, chaos rules. For more on this, read verses 4-12 in 1 Corinthians 11.

The Lord spoke through Peter on this subject as well. In 1 Peter 3:1 it says, “In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives,.” The wife’s submission to her husband can be used by the Lord to win over an unbelieving husband.

Over in Titus 2:3-5, Paul gives these instructions to Titus for the church. “3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

I could go on and give you more passages on this subject of wives’ submission to their husbands, but I think you have the picture now. I encourage you to search the Scriptures yourself if you have doubts. Let the Lord correct you, not me. Do it all as to the Lord.

Father, I thank You for wives everywhere who see the benefits and rewards of following Your plan for the home.

Standard
Bible, Foolishness, God's Will, Promises, Scripture, Understanding

DON’T BE A FOOL

EPHESIANS 5:17

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

A quote that is attributed to Abraham Lincoln is “It is better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Charles Spurgeon once had a note placed on the pulpit where he was preaching that simply said, “Fool.” He said to the audience, “Well, I have had many notes and letters written to me that were left unsigned. This is the first one that was signed but had no message.”

No one wants to be considered foolish or to be called a fool. In Galatians, Paul calls them “You foolish Galatians” because they were going back to their former thinking and denying his teachings. Here in Ephesians 5:17, he tells the Ephesians to “not be foolish.” He said instead for them to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” That can be a tall order, can’t it? How many times have you wondered what the Lord’s will was for you? Too many to count, right?

APPLICATION

Does that make you a fool? No, I don’t think so. If we are pursuing His will, we are not being foolish. But to know it and ignore, that is definitely foolish. The word used here for “foolish” means someone who just does not understand cause and effect. They don’t seem to grasp that every decision we make has consequences. They may be good or bad, but they will come. When we pursue God’s will, good things follow. I don’t mean bad things won’t happen. I do mean that the ultimate consequence of our following God’s will is good.

In Luke 11:40, Jesus called the Pharisees “You foolish ones” because they were more concerned in keeping the ceremonial laws than in obeying God. Sometimes we can do a right thing and be miles away from God’s will. That is foolish. Understanding God’s will may take time. He may disclose His will to you in pieces, not all at once. That’s okay.

Do you want to be foolish? I don’t think so. Do you want to understand God’s will? Probably. I say probably because you may not. It may cost you something you are not willing to give up. I am sorry, but that is foolish. What God requires is always better than what we want. Trust Him. Seek Him. His will is not a best kept secret. He wants to reveal it to you. Don’t be a fool!

Lord, forgive my foolishness for not seeking Your will more readily.

Standard
Battles, Bible, Choices, Failures, God's Will, Scripture, Sin

THROW OUT THE OLD

EPHESIANS 4:22

“that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,” 

One good thing about moving is the opportunity to get rid of some stuff, especially clothes which you haven’t worn or can’t wear any more. Why do we hang on to the old stuff? When my dad passed away, he left a shop and three outbuildings full of old sinks, toilets, light fixtures and pieces of wood and metal. He wouldn’t throw anything away. Guess what? Somebody has to, eventually.

In today’s verse, Paul tells us to “rid yourselves of the old self.” The verb here means to renounce, lay aside. In other words, take it off and don’t put it back on. That “old self” mentioned there is not talking about our personality or body. He is talking about that manner of life we lived before Christ. Don’t revert to your old ways. You have something new now. Don’t go back!

APPLICATION

The same verb is used several other times in the New Testament, almost always talking about getting rid of the bad stuff. Look over in Colossians 3:8 where Paul said, “But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth.” How about that verse that is so often quoted from Hebrews 12:1? “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

What are you still hanging on to that you need to let go? I am not talking about clothes or books. I am talking about habits or sins. I was talking to a guy recently who wants to get rid of his nicotine habit. He stopped smoking but is still using nicotine patches. He knows it is not good for him. He is asking the Lord to take away that addiction. Praise the Lord.

Can I give you some advice? If you have something (and we all do) that you need to lay aside, put it out of your reach. Don’t leave it laying somewhere that is easily accessible. If it’s around, you will more easily stumble. Throw it away. Dispose of it. Put it out of reach. And God will give you the strength and fortitude to live without it. I promise He is able.

Thank You, Father, for delivering me from those things that so easily entangle me.

Standard
Bible, God's Will, Hearing, Learning, Listening, Scripture

HEARING AND LEARNING

EPHESIANS 4:21

“if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,” 

When I was in high school, I was a bit of a clown. I loved (still do) to make people laugh. The bad part of that was I did it during class, thus disrupting the classroom and irritating the teacher. I may have heard what the teacher said with my ears, but I sure didn’t learn anything. In order to learn anything, you must listen and be willing to be taught.

As a continuation of verse 20, Paul talks about what the Ephesians had been taught. The Greek word for “heard” is akouó. Interestingly, this word is most often used to hearing God’s voice in order to build faith. Don’t you just love that? And “taught” is the word didasko, which most often refers to the Scriptures. Paul is telling the Ephesians to listen to God and look at the Scriptures.

APPLICATION

So, the question has to be asked. What are you listening to and what are you being taught? Well Carl, I go to church every Sunday and listen to the preacher. That is NOT what I am talking about. Did you know that we only retain about 5% of the information we hear from a lecture or a sermon. I am talking about hearing God speak to your heart. I am talking about digging in and learning the Scriptures yourself.

In the ministry I am apart of (Every Man A Warrior), we teach men these two skills. I recently did a deep dive into hearing God’s voice. I read several books which pointed out in Scripture the ways in which God speaks to us. He speaks through prayer, through people, through circumstances and yes, through Scripture. But we have to be listening. We have to be tuned in.

EMAW also teaches men how to study God’s Word using the ABC method. A = Ask questions and record your thoughts and meditations. B = Find the best verse or word or phrase. Then record your best thoughts. C = Communicate your thoughts and insights back to God in prayer. Listening to the Word is good, but it is not enough.

Hearing and being taught! That is how we learn. Are you listening today? Are you willing to be taught today? God is our Master Teacher. He is speaking today. He wants you to hear and obey. Let’s do this together. Amen?

O Lord, I want to hear You today and obey whatever You tell me.

Standard
Bible, Father, God's Will, Kingdom, Majesty, Praise, Scripture

ONES, PART 3

EPHESIANS 4:6

“one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Have you ever been in a culture where other gods were worshipped? As a believer, it feels kind of strange and dark. I remember during my second trip to Liberia, West Africa back in 1985, our small mission group went back into the bush to do some medical missions and preach. As we entered this one village, there was this large cottonwood tree upon which all kinds of animal bones and skulls were hanging. I asked what that was and was told by the missionary who was with us that that was the witch doctor’s tree where he practiced his sacrifices. That was a little unnerving.

Paul reminds the Ephesians in today’s verse that there is only one God who is the “Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” That pretty much covered it, don’t you think? Remember, Ephesus was the location of the temple of Artemis, who was in Greek religion, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth. She was identified by the Romans with Diana. The Ephesians understood the importance of recognizing God as their one God. And considering what Artemis stood for, Paul’s phrase, “of all who is over all and through all and in all,” wiped away all those claims.

APPLICATION

Is God your one God? Is He all that matters to you? Is He central to your beliefs and actions? Those may sound like simple questions, but they go much deeper. This God, who is our Father, is Father to all. Albert Barnes explains it this way, “The meaning here is, that God is the common Father of ‘all’ his people – of the rich and the poor; the bond and the free; the learned and the unlearned. He is no respecter of persons. Nothing would tend more to overcome the prejudices of color, rank, and wealth, than to feel that we all have one Father; and that we are all equally the objects of his favor;”.

Paul fully clarifies the importance of this one God by saying he is “Father of all who is over all and through all and in all,”. Look at that description. He is “over all.” He is supreme over all. 1 Chronicles 17:20 tells us, “LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to everything that we have heard with our ears.”

He is also “through all.” What did Paul mean by that? This implies that He is seen throughout nature, in all the world around us. This would have gone directly against the goddess Artermis’ claims, and the Ephesians would have recognized that. Psalm 8 begins this way, “LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” You should read the enter Psalm right now. It’s only 9 verses. Go ahead. I’ll wait…………

Are you back? Okay, the final thing Paul says in verse 6 is that God is “in all.” Jesus said in John 17:21, “‘that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.’” God is in us, but we are also in Him. Isn’t that incredible? If you believe that, live like it today. Be Jesus to someone.

O God, You are the only One true God. There is no other.

Standard
Affliction, Bible, Boldness, Brokenness, Courage, Faith, Fear, God's Will, Modeling, Oppression, Scripture, Suffering

AN EXAMPLE OF SUFFERING

EPHESIANS 3:13

“Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.”

Suffering is not something I welcome. I mean, come on, who would? No one wants to suffer. But we have to be willing to accept it and embrace it when the Lord allows it. Those who know my story witnessed my suffering during my health crisis back in 2010 and then again in 2020. Stem cell transplants and chemo are no laughing matter. So many people prayed for me during that time. I know my suffering helped build a lot of people’s prayer life. For that I am grateful.

As Paul sits in a Roman prison, he tells the Ephesians to not feel sorry for him and to not get discouraged. A lot of versions translate “discouraged” as “faint. Albert Barnes says this, “The word rendered ‘faint’ – ἐκκακέω egkakeō – means literally, to turn out ‘a coward,’ or to lose one’s courage; then to be fainthearted,” Paul is trying to encourage the Ephesians to remain bold and not let his present circumstance be a barrier to their growth in Christ and the spreading of the Gospel.

APPLICATION

That Greek word egkakeo, is only used six times in the New Testament (Luke 18:1; 2 Corinthians 4:1, 16; Galatians 6:9, here in Ephesians 3:13; and 2 Thessalonians 3:13). I really like how the word is used in Luke 18:1. “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,” Jesus knew that pray helps remove discouragement. It lifts us up. It brings us face to face with our Father in heaven whom we know is listening intently to our requests.

In 2 Corinthians 4:1 and 16, we see egkakeo translated as “lose heart.” “1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day’” Have you ever lost heart about something? I have. In fact, I am going through something right now that is very hard not to lose heart about. But I must continue to trust in the Lord’s providence and power.

Listen, God may decide to use you to be a source of encouragement for others. Your suffering (like Paul’s) may the one thing that shows them they too can trust in Jesus. So, embrace the suffering the Lord allows in your life. Allow the light of Jesus to shine through you as you draw people to Jesus like moths to a light.

Lord, I do not like to suffer, but I will submit myself to Your almighty hand, knowing You have a perfect plan.

Standard