Goes Against God’s Design

The other day, I ran across a story of a nurse talking about telling a patient she was seven weeks pregnant as her wife stood next to her. You read that right. The woman had cheated on her wife with a man and gotten pregnant in the process. The nurse didn’t elaborate on what happened after that, but she did say it was awkward. God created man and woman to be together. Homosexuality goes against God’s design.

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18:22

“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”

The Bible is very clear that homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord. That means it is repugnant or detestable to God. The act of a man laying with another man in sexual relations is morally repugnant to the Lord. I know it is not politically correct to condemn anything to do with gay people, but God has been saying for centuries that the act of homosexuality is an abomination. Men are not to lay with another man in a sexual way, and the same goes for women. It goes against God’s design.

Your Prayers are a Pleasing Aroma to God

Incense has been around since the beginning of time. Its uses are many, but it was primarily used to bring a different aroma to a room because there weren’t the sanitary measures we have in place today. One of the places it is used in the Bible was the tabernacle when Israel was out in…

Neither Better Nor Worse

In my book, there is nothing better than good BBQ. It is one of my favorite hobbies, and if you look on my social media on Saturday nights, you will probably see what I grilled for dinner. Food is essential for our survival, but God also gave it to us to enjoy. We are neither better nor worse by what we eat. It’s a matter of the heart.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8:8

“But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.”

Corinth was a very vain culture. They put a lot of emphasis on personal appearances and having it all together. This was creeping into the church, and Paul was dealing with it. One of the issues was food offered to idols. I have shared earlier that Corinthians, including those in the church, would often buy meat sacrificed at Pagan altars because it was cheaper than what you could pay in the market. There was also another facet of this debate. There were trade unions that would have monthly association dinners that would take place at these temples where they would eat the same meat. The difference was that many of the pagan rituals happened as well. Christians were caught in the middle of this because they would have no work if they didn’t go. If they did, they would often be accused of idol worship. Paul lays this to rest by saying food doesn’t commend or condemn us to God.

Bring the Life Back

There are a lot of people walking around lifeless. Current events have drained them of any energy or enthusiasm. Even some of the more optimistic people have lost their positive outlook. You can bring the life back into your heart if you are struggling. All you need is for the blood of Jesus to cover your sins.

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭17:11

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’”

In the Old Testament, the Israelites weren’t allowed to touch the blood of a person or animal, or they would become unclean. The reason for that is blood was the symbol of life. You can have flesh and bones, but it was the blood that gives life. That is also why blood was used in the sacrifices. It was one life for another. It would make atonement for a person’s sin and set them in a right relationship with God. An animal’s blood was used, but it was never satisfactory for God. That is why He sent His Son to come and be our sacrifice.

A Vision of Things to Come

How often do you think of the future? By this, I mean after Jesus comes with the rapture? Do you think of Heaven and what life will be like when that happens? The Apostle John gives us a vision of things to come in chapter four of Revelation. We get a glimpse of Heaven and what it’s going to be like.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:2

“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.”

John was exiled to the island of Patmos, and while he was there, he was given the book of Revelation. There were several times where he was taken into the Spirit. Chapter four shows us where John was taken up into Heaven and given a vision of what was there. Here he sees a throne with God sitting there. Chapters four through five are one of the best pictures of Heaven we get in the Bible.

Do Not Deprive One Another

There is a lot of sexual sin in the church, a lot. It seems to be spreading and reaching into new categories that were taboo in previous decades. How does a Christian navigate these waters and remain pure? Paul makes it simple and very clear for married couples: do not deprive one another lest you give in to temptation because of lack of self-control. Sadly, I’ve found that this is the predominant issue regarding most sexual sin, and it isn’t even close.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:5‬

“Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Too many Christian couples use sex as a manipulative tool. Women withhold it because they don’t like how their husbands are acting, and men force themselves on their wives because they have allowed their eyes to get them so riled up. Paul tells the couples to stop depriving one another of sexual intimacy because it opened each other to temptation, and they didn’t have enough self-control to resist.

Open a Door No One Can Shut

We live in an old house. It will be 100 years old in a couple of years. With that age comes some challenges. One of those is our bathroom door. It had the original handle on it that tends to get stuck. After multiple times of our children needing assistance getting out, we finally took the handle off. Now it is perpetually open unless you latch it. Did you know that God can open a door no one can shut? John shows us in today’s scripture.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:8

“‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

To the church in Philadelphia, Jesus speaks an encouraging word. They have been fighting the good fight and have experienced resistance from the Jewish synagogue, and they are tired. Jesus tells them that He will open a door that no one can shut. That can bring relief when you are weary from fighting battles. When Jesus says He will do something, He will do it. If He is going to open a door that you haven’t been able to budge, it’s going to open, and no one can shut it.

A Light and a Lamp

There is a lamp next to my side of the bed that is on its last leg. The shade is gone, and just yesterday, I broke the bracket that holds the shade. All that is left is a wooden stand with a single build on the top. My wife wants to replace it, but I won’t let her. It has more than sentimental meaning. It gives off the perfect light and just the right height. It allows me to read in bed before I go to sleep. I don’t care how ugly it is. God’s Word is a light and lamp to our life. Is it on?

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6:23‬

“For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life.”

Solomon reminds you again how vital the commandment of God is to the wisdom in your life. It is a light and lamp to guide you and repel the darkness. Many people don’t let the Word of God light their lives because they are afraid of what it will expose. Sadly, these people stumble around in the darkness and repeat the same mistakes again and again because they are more fearful of the light than the darkness.

Not All Things are Beneficial

Growing up in the church, the debate raged when I was a teenager about whether it was a sin to drink alcohol (It’s not). The church I grew up in was very conservative and frowned on a lot of behaviors like drinking. One night our youth pastor shared this verse. Whether it was right or the main point is that not all things are beneficial. That has stuck with me as a grown-up. Is this behavior going to strengthen my relationship with Jesus? Something we all need to ask.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:12

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

The Corinthians love their liberty and like to celebrate it from the rooftops. Paul addresses this by telling them while things may be lawful, they weren’t profitable. The issue of debate in Corinth was food sacrificed to idols. The pagan temples would seem their meat at a much-reduced price than the market, and Christians wanted to take advantage of that. It didn’t cause them to stumble, but it was a struggle for young Christians coming out of paganism. Paul didn’t want their behaviors to lead to behaviors that would end up in addiction.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

As a pastor, it is very easy to get distracted by a lot of worthy causes. The need is much greater than resources. People will tell you heart-wrenching stores, and you will want to stop everything and address the issue. While those are important, they aren’t the primary purpose of my job. I am called to preach the Gospel and teach people the ways of the Lord. I need to make sure to keep the main thing the main thing.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:2-3

“‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.”

The church in Ephesus was a vibrant, active church, actively fighting against false apostles who would lead the church astray. They were protecting new Christians from wrong doctrine and supporting the smaller churches in the nearby communities. It was the picture of a church that had it together and one that many would model today. There was one problem. They were so busy they forgot the main thing, to love Jesus with their heart, soul, mind, & strength.