Category Archives: Uncategorized

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FROM WHENCE IT CAME

ROMANS 15:26

“For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.”

I have never had a lot of money. I do dream about that sometimes though. If I suddenly fell into a huge financial blessing, I am sure my wife and I would give to a lot of needs around us. We are not into worldly possessions beyond what we need to get along. I have joked what I would do if I won the lottery. The only problem with that is you have to buy a ticket to win, right? But giving to others has always given me joy.

Paul is overjoyed that he is able to “make a contribution for the poor” in Jerusalem. This “mother” church was under constant persecution from the Jews and the Roman government. Many had lost their jobs, businesses and homes because they were followers of Christ. As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, Paul is delivering the gifts he had been given by the Gentiles in Macedonia and Achaia to the church who had, in a sense, given them birth. Because of their faithfulness in the midst of persecution, the gospel had spread to them.

APPLICATION

Can I give you a short historical geography lesson which I think will help as we look at this verse today? Macedonia was a Greek region which contained a few important cities Paul visited. Berea was the city where they examined the Scriptures closely to make sure what Paul was preaching was true. You may have heard the expression “Be a Berean.” That’s where it came from. Philippi was also in Macedonia. We know the importance of this city, perhaps the first city where Paul started a church. And Thessaloniki was the capital city. I visited there once and was told that it is the only Macedonian city that has never been without a Christian church.

Along with Achaia, which contained Corinth, a collection was made to present to the Jerusalem saints to relieve their suffering. There is no indication that the Jerusalem saints asked for this help. The Gentiles volunteered the assistance out of love and respect for their Jewish brethren. You can read more about this in the book of Acts.

How does this apply to us? Look back to the source of your salvation. Was it a person from your hometown, college, neighborhood or a stranger on the street who witnessed to you? I attribute my coming to Christ to my former Youth Pastor, Julian Larsen, who knew what kind of kid I was but still loved on me and allowed me to be a part of a youth choir that changed my life. That’s a whole other story I would be glad to share with you sometime. Reach back and give thanks to those who influenced you, if you are able. We are where we are spiritually because of other saints who invested in us one way or the other.

Thank you, Jesus, for sending all the people in my life who have influenced my walk with You. Bless them today.

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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THE ABYSS

ROMANS 10:7

“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

This is a misunderstood passage which, if read without further study, would suggest Christ descended into hell at His death before He was resurrected. Nothing is further from the truth. Paul is continuing the use of the Deuteronomy 30:11-14 passage but takes some liberties in its application in this letter. Paul is trying to show the overall meaning of the passage – that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

The word Paul uses for “abyss” is abussos. The Topical Lexicon explains the word this way. “employs the abyss rhetorically: “Who will descend into the Abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30 to stress the nearness of the gospel. By equating the abyss with the realm of death, he proclaims that Christ’s resurrection has already conquered that depth, making human attempts to secure salvation unnecessary and impossible.”

APPLICATION

That is the point of Paul’s words here. Christ has already conquered death (the abyss) so there is no need for us to try to raise Him from the dead. What a perfect passage for this week as we are in Holy Week. In fact, tomorrow would have been the day when Christ was crucified. He lay in a tomb for three days and then burst forth on Sunday morning. We can argue until we are blue in the face about where Christ was those three days. None of us know exactly. He was in the place of the dead which was commonly called “the abyss.” We do know, however, that He defeated death and returned to earth.

Listen, Christ died once and was raised once for our sins and our promise of eternal life. There is no reason for us to go back and back and back asking God to save us. Once we ask Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, nothing can separate us. We read earlier in this letter to the Romans in 8:38-39, “38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When you are at your lowest, Christ has gone even lower for you. There is no depth at which He cannot reach you. There is no depth at which you cannot reach Him. This Easter, as you celebrate Christ’s resurrection, remember how low He went for you. He conquered death for us all. Hallelujah!

I thank You, Lord, for what You did for me and continue to do for me each and every day.

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, Childbirth, Creation, Groanings, Romans, Scripture, Suffering, Uncategorized

GROANINGS AND LABOR PAINS

ROMANS 8:22

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

If you are like me, you have probably experienced some groans and sufferings in your lifetime. Whether they be from physical pain or emotional pain, those groans and sufferings are real. What can make those even worse is if they are experienced by more than one person. When the terrorist attacks happened back on September 11, 2001, the whole nation groaned and suffered. It was a deep groan and deep suffering. You probably still remember where you were the moment that happened.

Paul uses a word today that is used only here in the New Testament. The word is sustenazó which comes from sun (together) and stenazo (groan). That preposition sun is that inseparable togetherness. You are bound by this groaning. Paul is saying in today’s verse that all creation is bound together in this groaning and suffering. Then Paul uses another “one-time” word. The phrase “suffers the pains of childbirth together” is one Greek word – sunódinó. It also has the preposition sun. It is joined to odino (birth pains, labor). What a great word picture Paul paints for us.

APPLICATION

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, creation has been groaning. There would have been no earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes if man had not sinned. Not only did Adam and Eve begin to experience the decay of death, but so did creation. Thorns and thistles grew where once there was just beautiful meadows or fruit trees.

How does this apply to us? We are decaying as I write these words. There is nothing we can do to stop our physical decay. We can take a thousand multivitamins and spend thousands of dollars on doctors and therapies, but we will all still die. Our bodies simply break down. I know I feel mine breaking down every day.

But we do have a remedy for our spiritual body, our spirit and even our soul. Jesus gives us a new birth. We are regenerated through His Holy Spirit. He transforms our minds (Romans 12:1-2). He transforms our spirits and knits it together with His. He transforms even our souls (our personalities). Think about that last one. Don’t tell me you don’t see that in that person who gets saved. They stop telling those off-color jokes. They stop looking at stuff they shouldn’t look at. They stop being the person they were before Christ. Our groanings and sufferings may continue physically, but spiritually we have no need for that anymore. Hallelujah, praise His name.

Thank You, Father God, for hearing my groans and seeing my sufferings. You have rescued me and given me a new 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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Uncategorized

A LITTLE BREAK

Due to having some “minor” surgery on my face and subsequent results (right eye swollen shut and intense headache) I will be taking a little break from posting my blogs. I will resume as soon as my eye opens. it’s pretty bad when your face id doesn’t work on your phone, lol.

Keep me in your prayers as I heal.

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Uncategorized

Coming Soon

I will be back with my daily blog posts beginning December 16th. I will be taking a look at Paul’s epistle of Colossians. This is a great follow up to our last study in Ephesians. So…stay tuned and watch for it beginning next MONDAY, DECEMBER 16.

I have missed writing every day, but needed this break as I was traveling throughout East Africa last month.

Blessigs

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Baptism, Faith, Father, Jesus, One, Scripture, Uncategorized

ONES, PART 2

EPHESIANS 4:5

“one Lord, one faith, one baptism,”

We are continuing the thought Paul is sharing with the Ephesians in verses 4-6 of Ephesians 4. As I read today’s verse (short and to the point), I couldn’t help but think about the work we are doing around the world with Every Man A Warrior. Our ministry crosses cultures and denominations. We do not exclude a man because he belongs to a different church than us. We truly embrace today’s verse in order to unite men around the world to follow God’s direction in their lives as disciple makers.

Paul gives us three more “ones” in today’s verse. One Lord (Jesus)! One faith (in Christ as Lord)! One baptism (the public demonstration of your faith)! Paul is adamant about uniting these Gentile believers with their Jewish brothers. He wanted them to come together under a common banner – the banner of Jesus only! But don’t read this verse and move on to quickly. Look at what Paul is showing us here.

APPLICATION

Paul’s “one Lord” statement carries a lot of weight. In verse 4, Paul had pointed out there was “one Spirit.” We will see him point to “one God” in verse 6. So, with these three verses (4:4-6), Paul is pointing to the Trinity – Father, Son and Spirit. All three are important. And with the mention of all three separately, Paul is making a point to the Ephesians. They need Jesus. They need the Spirit. They need the Father God.

“One faith” is bringing attention to the fact that through the shed blood of Jesus, we have all been brought into the same faith. Believers who are following Jesus aren’t divided into subgroups. Paul even said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) And this faith is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us so when it says, “It is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is a gift of God.”

And then Paul steps onto thin ice, doesn’t he? He says, “one baptism.” Well Paul, what type of baptism are you talking about? Sprinkling, dunking, wet cloth? Paul is not referring to a type of baptism. He is referring the obedience of public profession of your faith, making it known to others. It is all about the act, not the actual process. I personally believe in baptism by immersion, but I am not going to break fellowship with my fellow believers over it. No, there is one act of baptism.

Ones! We are one! Never forget that. So, whenever anyone tries to separate you from other believers and point fingers at them, beware. Check everything by Scripture. After all, there is only one true authority and that’s His Word.

Father, I praise You that You are three in One. And You have made us one with You

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Bible, Blessing, Calling, Family, Glory, Humility, Scripture, Service, Uncategorized

NAMESAKE

EPHESIANS 3:15

“from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,”

My daughter and son-in-law gave me such a blessing a few weeks ago when our grandson was born. What was an even bigger blessing is they decided to name him Lucas Carl. He has my name. Why does that bless me? Well, I carry both of my grandfathers’ names – Carl Spence and Clarence William Willis. It’s kind of like carrying on the family name, in a way. Of course, my grandson has his dad’s last name (unless I can get him to change it, lol). Bearing someone’s name is an honor and privilege.

In today’s verse, Paul says all believers have their Father’s name. Now, he didn’t mean we all have to change our name to Jehovah. That would be kind of silly. What he meant was we are now all in the same family. We represent the Father. We are protected by the Father. This applies to all believers, alive or in heaven. We are all one big family.

APPLICATION

What does that mean for us? Well, first of all, it means we need to love each other. In John 13:34, Jesus tells us, “‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.’” How are you loving your fellow believer? Are you arguing about the color of the carpet in the sanctuary? How silly! We’re family.

Family means a lot of different things to people. Those who grew up in dysfunctional families can really struggle with the concept of family. They don’t understand that you can disagree and still love each other. Do you really think the disciples always got along? In Mark 10, we have a great story that I think illustrates this point. Remember when John and James asked Jesus if they could sit at his right and left in glory? Read the following and see what happened.

John 10:41-45 says, “41 Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’”

So, love each other and serve each other. That’s what family does!

Thank You, Lord, for making me part of Your family.

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Accused, Bible, Captivity, Darkness, Enemies, Fear, Freedom, Innocent, Prison, Scripture, Uncategorized

BEHIND BARS

EPHESIANS 3:1

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—”

Consider this: You wake up behind bars with your best friend. What are the first four words you say? Mine would be “What did you do?” Most of the time when someone is put behind bars, they proclaim their innocence to anyone who will listen. And that is true sometimes. But it’s been said that everyone who is behind bars thinks they are innocent. There are also A LOT of guilty people behind bars today.

Paul proclaims his guilt. He is a prisoner because he preached Jesus. Those in authority in the religious world did not like that, so they screamed his guilt. Now, it is true that what they accused him of was not true. But Paul was definitely guilty of going against the laws they held. Paul preached Jesus as the only way of salvation, not the Mosaic law. And why did he do this? He says so – “for the sake of you Gentiles.”

APPLICATION

If sharing Jesus with someone was a crime (and it is in some parts of the world), would you obey that law or share anyway? Would you risk imprisonment for the cause of Christ? In John 15:18-19, we read these words of Christ. “‘18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.’”

We can’t expect the world to like it when we expose their darkness. Have you ever gone into a dark room, flipped on the light and see cockroaches scurry into the nearest crack? They don’t like to be exposed. They prefer the darkness. So, when you let your “little light” shine, the world will probably respond back with force, maybe even threats.

In times like these, I am reminded of Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Christ is with you whether you are free or behind bars. Don’t let anyone cause you to tremble. The God of all ages is your strength.

Father, give me the courage to face down any giants that may threaten me.

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Adoption, Bible, Family, God's Will, Home, Scripture, Uncategorized

GOD’S KIDS

GALATIANS 3:26

“For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Being a part of a big family can be a good thing. My wife, for instance, is one of eight siblings, two boys and six girls. They are all pretty close and spend a lot time talking through social media or, in the case of my wife and some of her sisters, hours on the phone. I am so thankful we have unlimited minutes now on our cellphones, lol.

But better than our earthly families, we are part of a large, multiracial, multi-continental family. That’s God’s family. Paul reminds the Galatians, who were for the most part a Gentile audience, that they too were part of this family. It wasn’t just a Jewish thing. Their common faith in Jesus as Lord has brought them all into the same family – the family of God.

APPLICATION

Application for this verse is so apparent. We need to do all we can to bring more into the family. John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,…” And then there is another verse by John in 1 John 3:1. “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.”

I could continue to rattle off dozens of verses on us being the children of God but let me encourage you to do a little digging. Just google “verses about being called children of God.” You will find plenty. As children ourselves, we are called to expand the family. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and invite the world to come in. There is plenty of room in God’s house.

Who in your earthly family right now needs Jesus? Pray daily for them. Share the gospel with them every chance you get. Will they get mad with you? Maybe, but what is worse – them getting made or them going to hell. And above all, live like Jesus. Sometimes words are even necessary in sharing our witness. The love of Jesus in us can draw them to Him. Be His obedient child.

I am so thankful to be in Your family, God. I know You will always be my heavenly Father.

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SIN IS SIN

ZECHARIAH 14:19

“This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.”

How many times have you tried to justify your sin? Oh brother, I cannot count the times I’ve done that. That person was mean to me. That person cut me off in traffic. She cheated on me, so… I could keep naming how we do that. But listen closely – sin is sin – plain and simple. We cannot sugarcoat it. Sin stinks.

Zechariah uses a word which has been translated as punishment. The better translation is sin, which also included the punishment. This word sometimes inferred habitual sinfulness. Get the picture. Egypt and the nations were not guilty of one sin. This has been their pattern. So, why would they go up to the feast? Their hearts were sinful.

APPLICATION

Oh boy! You could drive a truck through the hole this verse causes in our lives. We cannot declare ourselves sinless. Our whole life is full of sin. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our righteousness is just filthy rags in comparison. God will not excuse us. We must do something about these sins.

I love Ephesians 2:8-9. It says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” There is hope for the vilest offender. Sin is sin. Sure! But forgiveness is forgiveness. Don’t spend too much time trying to figure out God’s forgiveness. Just accept it.

I have shared my salvation experience many times on this blog site. I never get tired of telling the story. I saw my sin at age 16. Before that I gave every reason in the book to explain away my sin. God had to show me the filthiness of my sin, and He did. He will show you how dirty you are, if you will let Him. Are you ready? He is.

O Lord, You have taken the filth of my sin and purified my heart. Praise the Lord.

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