Category Archives: Lifestyles

Bible, Faith, Lifestyles, Repetition, Scripture, Skills, Testimony

REPETITION

ROMANS 4:9

“Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, ‘FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”

In our ministry to men, Every Man A Warrior uses a set of books to teach men how to walk with God, succeed in life and multiply spiritually. This is done through repetitive skills we build into the men. We know that repetition helps drive home a point so that men make it a daily part of their life. One of those skills is doing a daily Quiet Time and journaling their thoughts and insights from the passage.

Paul is a master of repetition. In this chapter, he is continually circling back around to his main point to make sure the readers get it. He wants to cover this truth from all angles so there is no doubt what he is teaching them. Today’s verse is no exception. Once again, Paul brings up the matter of circumcision. Verse 9 and 10 are tied into the same thought. Paul gets his readers thinking once again how Abraham was counted as righteous in God’s eyes. How does his circumcision play a part in this?

APPLICATION

Paul’s heart for the Gentiles is bleeding through every thought. He asks that question – “Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?” That really is what he has been discussing for the past verses going back to chapter 2. Are Jews the only ones considered righteous because they keep the law or is this righteousness made available to all men through faith in Jesus?

You and I have the benefit of over two thousand years of history and insight from dozens of theologians who have discussed this issue of faith. You and I may have all the right “Sunday School” answers to this. Of course, it comes through faith! Right? Then why do so many people think they have to perform and do something for God to receive this? Because we are a works mentality culture.

Free stuff is often seen as cheap or not worth much. People who have great intelligence cannot wrap their heads around the simplicity of the Gospel. But it really is that simple and it really is free. What is preventing the masses from storming the doors of the church? I believe it is Christians’ lifestyles that do not match up to what God expects from His children. Don’t let your lifestyle keep someone from pursuing this blessing. I believe it was Bonhoeffer who said we should live our lives as Christians so that it causes the unbeliever to question their unbelief. Do that today.

Father God, keep me from being a barrier for others to see Jesus. Let me lead them by my example in how to trust 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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