Cherish Ephesians 6:4: Recent Episodes

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Milestones20and20pebbles20of20repentance.mp3The Milestones And Pebbles Of Repentance. Do You Have Them?

Some argue that the Book of Romans is the most important book in the Bible. Not most important in its message, but most comprehensive in doctrine because it is here that much of the Christian life is explained. We cannot exit even the first chapter without being challenged to think through weighty issues.

Chapter one declares God’s just punishment for everyone who ignores Him. There are no exceptions because God has given us adequate evidence to prove that there is a God, and that God demands obedience. Chapter two goes on to address discrimination and how God treats us equally and fairly. We are warned to be careful to not place ourselves in the judgment of other people’s sinfulness because first, we do the same things and second, judging others simply magnifies our own guilt.

And then there is this in chapter 2 and verse 4, Paul writes, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

This is a very interesting statement because it seems to be in conflict with what the Bible teaches elsewhere. The Word of God teaches us that unbelievers have been blinded by the devil as it says in 1 Corinthians 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

And in 2 Corinthians 4:3 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

In addition to the unbeliever’s mind not being able to have a peek at the gospel, we also know they have no ability to understand it. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

So, how then can a person experience the kindness that leads to repentance? Jesus gives us the answer in John 3:3 when He says to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Being born again is not something that a man can do. Jesus again a few verses later: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” This is a gift from God. It is at this point that the person who may have heard about Jesus and the gospel for many years, now sees, hears, and understands the gospel for the first time. What was simply information he chose to ignore in the past now becomes the most important and shocking news he has ever received.

I remember this time in my life 31 years ago. I was like a man who was sinning secretly in a dark room, believing I could keep all of my thoughts and deeds hidden away from others. Then, all of a sudden, it was as if a brilliant light had lit up the room and my life was completely exposed to a God Who I could not escape his gaze or his wrath. Seemingly in the same moment of terror, I also understood the gospel. This same God, Who had the right and the obligation to destroy me for all the years of disobedience and wickedness, was offering me a way of peace. I don’t think I grasped this offer in terms of the love of God, but I did recognize this offer as an unfathomable kindness. I was stunned by the fact that He had allowed me to live for this moment. I was overwhelmed by the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice and how great a punishment he received in my place. All of these kindnesses and many more flashed through my mind and there was nothing else that I could possibly do but repent.

And what is repentance? It is a dramatic change of mind where a person goes from loving their sin and ignoring God, to a person who hates their sins and beholds God as their Lord and Savior. Yes, the kindness of God in so many ways leads a person to repentance and for every Christian, this moment is the greatest milestone or landmark, in their lives.

But the kindness of God does not stop there and neither does repentance. It has been said that the Christian life is a life of repentance, and I can tell you from experience it is true. There is not a day in my life that passes that I do not have to pull myself back from thinking or acting sinfully. My language slips, my thoughts drift to ungodly places, and my actions begin to form habits that I hate. And what am I called to do? Repent. But how? How can I fight this good fight for my good and the glory of God? And why does it take me so long to even realize that I need to turn away from these sins? This is why David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23)

The answer: Just as the Spirit of God had to give me a new heart so I could see and understand the gospel, the Spirit now works in me to make me see what I am so slow to see. He kindly pricks my conscience and mind so I can be aware when I am not walking worthy with God. He reminds me of the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. And I repent.

While the moments of great repentance (such as the day of conversion, and later times in life of great reflection) are like milestones, the multitude of repenting moments over the lifetime of a Christian are like small stones cemented together that form great walls of faith, holiness, and thankfulness. Together, they prepare the Christian for every spiritual battle and eventually make him ready for heaven.

How big a part is repentance in your daily life? Do you regularly consider the kindness of God to you? Much to think about!

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Have-You-Been-Thinking.mp3Have You Been Thinking About Giving Up?

I am tired of failing. It has now been 31 years since I placed my faith in the work of Christ for me, but after all this time, I am continually disappointed in myself because I am not where I thought I would be at this point in my walk with Christ. During these 31 years I have worked in ministry teaching people what the Bible says about money and have also led a Christian school. I have led Bible studies and small groups and have had many opportunities to lead others through teaching the Bible. And yet, many of the truths I have taught I have been unable to live out in my own life.

What are these sins that I have been unable to conquer? Well, they are not the outward sins that anyone could see-although I still struggle with those. No, the sins I am losing against are the sins of the heart and mind. These are the sins that cannot be discerned by the casual observer of my life. Sometimes, they are called the “secret sins.”

So, let’s get more specific about these “secret sins.” These are what John wrote about in 1 John 2:15-17 where in warning against loving the world said, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” These desires are things like thoughts about money, both the desire to have more (greed and lack of contentment) and anxiety over losing what God has given me (“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”). These kinds of sins include the prideful judging of other people- their sins, motives, and lives. These kinds of sins are aligned with the world’s teachings on sexuality. These kinds of sins draw you into spending God’s gift of time on things that have no eternal value and eat up the time you should be spending on things that feed your soul and others.

In response to these failings, I would double down on efforts to fill my mind with Christ-centered thoughts. I have read more and listened more but even in the very midst of those efforts- good and helpful efforts- sinful thoughts creep in. In fact, my prayers are often invaded by thoughts that have nothing to do with God. These experiences make me want to throw up my hands in disgust with myself and ask, “when will I graduate from this unfaithfulness?” Maybe this was some of the experience of the ancient monks, who sought to eradicate sinful thoughts by beating themselves with a whip. No worries, I’m not going there.

Then, on a recent excursion through the forest of sinful thinking, I had an epiphany. Actually, it was a re-epiphany. It was the same revelation from God I had 31 years ago and that revelation, was the gospel. I had forgotten the gospel. No, not that I had intellectually forgotten the gospel, but I forgot to apply the gospel to my everyday life, and it was time for a review.

Here is what I learned 31 years ago and what I needed to review:

• I am a sinner who cannot stop sinning. I am weak and frail and out of control.
• All of my efforts to please God apart from Christ working in me are like filthy rags to God. As Paul wrote, no matter what my credentials might be, they are worthless before a holy God. I need a Savior who has kept the law perfectly on my behalf. I have no righteousness- it is all Christ’s righteousness!
• I will have to fight against the world, the flesh and the devil every day until I die, and I will not win even one battle in my own strength, but I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. When I am weak and willing to acknowledge it, He is strong in my life.
• I will battle to remember this gospel, but like Peter I will continually ask God to increase my faith.
• Seeing the depth and magnitude of my sins serves to magnify the awareness of Jesus’ love for me displayed on the bloody cross and causes me to praise Him as my King.
• If God is for me, who can be against me?

In conclusion, there is no giving up for the Christian. There is only remembering what is true and applying it to everyday life. When we do so, we go from frustration to exultation and have a sense of joy even in the failures. I believe Paul would give an amen to that seemingly strange idea when he said, “we live as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).

And by the way, our children have no answer for their continued failure to obey their parents and those failures may become a source of frustration for them. What a great opportunity to share the gospel again and again.

Thanks for reading. You can find many more articles, recorded books, booklets, sermons, and devotions, all from famous preachers and teachers of the past On YouTube, the web, or Apple Podcast by entering Cherish Ephesians 64 in the search bar.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/the-revolving-door-of-worldliness.mp3The Revolving Door Of Worldliness In Our Homes.

For many Christians, the meaning of Jesus’ words to not love the world is clear. There are many places in our world we know we should not attend, many people we should not befriend, and many things we should not see or hear. Why? Because we are spiritually weak and the level of our faithfulness to our savior is not enough to keep us from falling into sin. It is a known fact to any Bible believing Christian even though our ultimate desire is to please God, the flesh is weak. That is, the remaining power of sin, often called the flesh, is still powerfully working within us.

So, even as Christians understand John’s terrible warning, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15)”, and we are aware of the weakness of our flesh, we continue to seek out the very things that we have been commanded to avoid. What is happening?

I believe each of us must consider the following possibilities. First, we are blind to what we are ingesting from the world around us. This is a different blindness from what Paul talks about in his second letter to the Corinthians where he says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” This applies to the unbelievers, not believers of the gospel, but I believe Christians can choose to remain blind to the ways of the world that inhabited their minds prior to their conversion. These anti-Christian ways may have been taught to them by their parents or picked up through secular education, but the important thing to note is they were taught by others during the most formative time of their life. These “ways of the world” are so ingrained, they can actually bring comfort and joy for a short period of time to the Christian. This is why David, the great king and man after God’s own heart cried, search me and show me! He knew there were things God hated in his life he couldn’t see.

But are these loves for the world excused by God because they were infused into our soul by others? Absolutely not. God demands absolute holiness and makes it clear when He inspired Peter to write, “Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).”

Truly, the daily fight for holiness is a brutal war that never relents and taxes our spiritual and mental strength. It is because of this we may be willing to compromise on the battle front and accept losses of spiritual terrain for Christ. In other words, we are prone to tell ourselves we have made enough progress in our goal of becoming like Christ and become satisfied with our present level of sanctification. We can agree with the great lie of the enemy who says things like, nobody’s perfect, or Jesus paid for all of your sins anyway, or you are better than most others, or this or that is really not affecting you. We can believe there is a truce with the great deceiver, all the while he continues to take ground in the battle for our hearts and minds.

Remember the standard and the promise that God would be with you: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).”

Unfortunately, many Christians express a kind of frustration that they are not growing in their faith, yet they continue to walk in the ways of the world. They don’t see it isn’t another Bible study, or a conference, or more prayer, that will solve their problem (although these are good things), but simple obedience to release their love of certain worldly things.

But if the fight against the world is tough enough for adults, how much tougher for the children? While adults have a level of maturity and wisdom based on life experience, the children have none. When Christian adults need a light to their path, they go to the Word of God, but when children need a light, they depend on their parents.

I am thankful many Christian parents have removed their children from the influence of secular schools and are now homeschooling or using other ways of providing a Christian education for their children. They have come to understand the vital importance of feeding the eyes and ears of their children with teaching aligned with the Bible. Many Christian parents are breathing easier because they believe their children are now in two safe environments- the school and the home.

However, the idea that their children’s minds and hearts are safe is sadly another deception from the one who roams the earth looking to destroy God’s people, even in our homes. How does he get in? He gets in by parents opening the door for him. He glides in on the back of the worldly things the parents love and works to train the children to love the very same things. So, while the parents are praying God will eradicate worldliness from the minds of their children, the parents are allowing their hearts and minds to be trained to love worldly things. It’s like a revolving door- worldliness out while bringing wordiness in- a plan that will never achieve a Christian parents’ goal of creating a foundation for the Holy Spirit to blow the grace of God into their children’s hearts.

So, what are the worldly loves you have? Whatever or whomever they are, do you see your children now love them too? And who are the people they want to be like? Who are they taking their cues from in speech or dress? Who has taught them how to respond to authority? Besides parents as teacher/models, other means from which they learn to think are easy to figure out (anything that connects to the outside world).

And here again, parents can choose to minimize the impact on their children. They can say that a little of this or that will not significantly affect their children, but they will find no words from God’s book supporting the idea of exposing them to the smallest bit of anti-Christian speech or behavior. In fact, just the opposite. Or parents can attempt to minimize the impact by citing the source’s absence of speaking against God’s ways. Unfortunately, we have become so accustomed to following people who never speak for Christ, we think this is meaningless to the King. But this is not true. God demands He be glorified in all things so those who never exalt Him in their speech are not in some kind of neutral position, and our children do not need to learn that kind of neutrality.

Bottom line: Understand the power of worldly influences on your walk with the Lord and how they will affect your home’s battle against the world. With God’s help, be willing to jettison them from your life for the sake of Christ and your children. In doing so, your home will no longer be a revolving door for worldliness but become an exit door for worldliness and an entrance for holiness.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Jay-0925.mp3“I Would Hurry To Find Shelter From The Raging Wind And Tempest.” Psalm 55:8

Today’s post is a devotion from the book Morning Exercises, written by William Jay. Jay pastored a church in England for 60 years and was famous for his faithful exposition of the Bible. I love the old dead guys, and I hope Jay’s devotions will be a blessing to you.

Pastor Jay references Psalm 55:8 which says, “I Would Hurry To Find Shelter From The Raging Wind And Tempest.”

Such was the language of David, and it may be the language of any other good man in the depth of distress. But is it allowable and proper? There is no perfection here; There is nothing concerning which we should be careful to limit our criticism of hasty expressions, uttered under the pressure of pain or grief. Perhaps it was to prevent our severity here, that the cases of Job and Jeremiah are recorded, both of whom, though eminent in their walk with the Lord, cursed the day of their birth.

The scripture is not harsh upon them, and it is observable, that when James refers to one of these bitterly complaining sufferers, he only says, “You have heard of the patience of Job.” They who have never been in a state of peculiar distress, know little of the feelings of human nature under it. But there are others who can respond to the invitation of sympathy, “Pity me, pity me, oh you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!“

And the Father of mercies knows our frame and remembers we are dust. We are not required to choose suffering for its own sake, or to be indifferent to ease and deliverance. Our Savior Himself had not the fortitude which laughs at pain, but that which he deeply felt, and yet submitted. With strong cries and tears he prayed, “Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”

But although we may allow some things as an excuse, truth does not require us to commend it. It was his infirmity that induced David, to long for death to hasten his escape from the stormy wind and tempest. An old writer tells us, it would’ve been more honorable for him to have asked for the strength of an ox to bear his trials, than for the wings of the dove, to flee from them.

Is not such language unworthy and ungrateful? Should we overlook and forget all our comforts? Have they not been great in numerous? And did we ask to flee away in those times? And are they not many and various even now? And shall we only dwell on the dark side? Let us examine again and let truth and thankfulness be firm.

And even though trials may be many and great, afflictions are not unchangeable dispensations. What changes often take place to our surprise, as well as our joy, of desponding suffers?

“The Lord can change the darkest skies,

Can give us stay for night.

Make drops of sacred sorrow rise,

To rivers of delight.”

And isn’t there unbelief in such situations? You are afraid of all your sorrows and not only of their continuance and increase, but of their influence and effects. You dread the possibility of not bearing them properly so as to glorify God, but sink in the day of adversity, and sin too. Oh, you a little faith! Why do you doubt? Is He not able to preserve and support and comfort you? And has He not engaged to do it? Has He not said, “I will never leave you or forsake you?” “ when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” And has not His conduct always accorded with this assurance, both with regard to others, and with regard to yourselves?

“ Did ever trouble yet befall, And He refuse to hear your call?

And he has not his promised past, that you shall overcome it last?”

Well then, once you have been horrified at the prospect of a trial, but when the evil day came, there came with it mercy and grace to help in the time of need. Perhaps you even gloried in tribulation, and you would not refuse to pass through some of those distressing situations again, in order to enjoy the same peace and comfort.

Is there not a great deal of ignorance and lack of thoughtfulness in this impatience? How do you know that it is better to escape from these troubles than to bear them? Not one of them has come upon you by chance and may you not forget the righteousness of them all as they are from their very Author? Is not His work perfect and His ways wise? He does all things well. Does He detain you in distress because He does not love you? Listen, He loves you with an everlasting love and withheld not his own son from you. Therefore, you may entirely confide in him, assured that if He does not release you, it is because He waits to be gracious, and also be equally assured that those who wait for Him will be blessed, for it is good for a man not only to hope, but quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

First, your own welfare may require the process. The Savior was made perfect through suffering and the character of every Christian is more formed and improved from his afflictions than his enjoyments. What would some of you have lost had you fled away before such a trying dispensation enriched your faith and hope! How much of your happiness in heaven will arise from a review of your present conflicts on earth! The very trial of your faith is precious, and the crown of life is promised, not to him that escapes, but to him that endures the temptation. Afflictions are heavenly agents and work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Secondly, the welfare of others may require it also. We are detained here to be useful, and we are often most useful in our trials. The passive graces are the most impressive. They are better than 1000 sermons. They are better to arrest the careless, to instruct the ignorant, to encourage the timid, to comfort the desponding. It was good that John Bunyan did not escape from the prison at Bedford, or we would not have his writing of Pilgrim’s Progress and the Holy War to learn from. Paul was a prisoner and knew that to depart and be with Christ was far better. Nevertheless, because it was more needful for the Philippians, he was willing to remain here and acquiesced in the adjournment of his deliverance and bliss. And here you also may be wanted. Perhaps you have a venerable mother and are required to rock the cradle of her age, who rocked the cradle of your infancy. Perhaps you are a parent, and a rising family is dependent on your care, instructed by your wisdom, and edified by your example. We are all placed in circumstances where we may prove a blessing, and this is our only opportunity. We may glorify God in heaven, but not in the same way as now-not by submission, patience, and self-denial. This is an advantage we have above those who have already been glorified. They cannot exercise candor, forgive injuries, relieve distress, and save souls. Life is ours as well as death. Therefore, all the days of our appointed time let us wait, till our change comes.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-20devil-says-you-are-not-worthy.mp3The Devil Tells You Are Unworthy…. And He Is Right.

“The “American dream.” That great term that refers to the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American dream is believed to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance” (From Investopedia).

This is the great dream under which many American generations were raised. In more recent years this has been warped into systems of belief that tell you to just believe and you can achieve whatever you want to achieve and be whatever you want to be. But even though the components of achievement have reduced or minimized the need to sacrifice and work hard, the core reason for a person’s success is still based on yourself, even if it is only the act of believing in yourself.

Listen to the responses that we hear from so many who have achieved a level of success and especially those who have achieved fame. They are asked what was the key to their success and what do they say? “I put in the work, I practiced, I studied, I listened, I watched, I was dedicated, I was disciplined, I persevered, I made sacrifices for it. In all of those responses, the bottom line is what they did, and only they, earned it.

Sadly, these are the people we find ourselves attributing greater value and worth than others. We admire the great orator, the person who is very smart, the good looking person, the successful athlete, the rich person, the highly decorated military man, and the great performer. These are the people we so often find ourselves aspiring to become.

And what does living the American dream do to the soul of a man? As he is reminded of his achievements by others, it gives him great pleasure and increases his pride. He continually reflects on what he has done and revels in it. He receives glory and is powerfully motivated to experience more.

This is the world we live in. It is a world where men train the minds of men to seek glory for themselves. It is a world in which men declare belief in themselves and how they will go about achieving their plans, and when they are blessed with success, the kindness of God is ignored, and glory is claimed by the creature. Obviously, this system of thinking is not one that honors God, but a system of thinking that is propagated by the evil one.

With that system of thinking in mind, the devil enters in. The foundation of self-reliance and self-achievement has been laid and the devil enters in with lies and accusations. If he finds a non-Christian beginning to question his eternal destination and whether or not God will forgive him for a lifetime of disobedience, the devil tells him that he is not worthy to receive forgiveness. He tells him that he has not been good enough, that he’s going to have to work harder. The devil knows that the man will never arrive at a place where he will work hard enough or sacrifice enough to be perfect before a holy God, and he blinds men from understanding this truth. Because of this blindness, men try harder and harder to make themselves worthy of God’s acceptance, ultimately fail in frustration and despair, and are worse off than they were when they started.

To the Christian, Satan prowls the earth like a roaring lion looking for Christians who are experiencing a weak time in their spiritual life. It may be during a time of physical exhaustion or great challenges brought on by the death of loved ones, poor health, or financial pressures. Enter Satan into the situation and he places doubts in the mind of the Christian such as, are you really a true believer? Do you really have forgiveness from God? How could God forgive such a person as you, a person who continues to commit the same sins over and over again?

This is an incredibly effective strategy. For both the non-Christian and the Christian, Satan uses the tendency for us to believe in our worth based on what we have done rather than the gospel truth that our worth is based on what Jesus Christ has done. He will come with his accusations and lies each time the Christian is weak during trials or disobedience and each time the non-Christian considers his need to be reconciled to God.

It is a brilliantly designed fiery dart because the evil one uses half-truths to confuse us. In this case he is half right- we are not worthy to receive God’s forgiveness. The Bible clearly teaches us the same! But this is precisely where we can have victory when we read the rest of the story. We must know our Bibles! We defeat worldly thinking by using the sword of the Spirit- the word of God. Listen-

• No one has done good, not even you! (Romans 3:10-11)“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
• You couldn’t have done anything about your spiritual condition because you were dead. (Ephesians 2:1-2) “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”
• And while you were dead and helpless, God did an amazing thing. (Ephesians 2:2-5) “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
• We became worthy because God looks on us and sees the worthiness of His Son, Jesus. It never was our worth and never will be! (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For our sake he God, the Father) made him (Jesus, the Son) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
• And now that you belong to Christ, there is no going back because we are kept in the family according to His promise and power, not ours! (John 10:28-30) “I (Jesus) give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

These are the words of truth that we must train our minds with to do battle with the evil one. This is not thinking like the world we were brought up in but thinking that is formed in a renewed mind (Romans 12:2). These are truths that draw our natural gaze on ourselves away from us and toward Christ. He is both worthy and the only plea for our worthiness, and when we think about Him is this way, we will praise Him. Live in the security of it. Rejoice in it.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Deficient-Christianity.mp3A Love Letter To A Sufficient Person About A Deficient Christianity.

Dear loved one,

I have been thinking a great deal about our conversations over these past couple of years and the concerns I have for your heart but have been constrained from speaking with you by fear our relationship might be diminished. I think in fact, that you have sensed my strong desire to say more but could easily see that I cherished our bond even more. However, the stakes are too high to hold back what I believe to be the most important thing to you and your life now and forever.

I see much of myself in you. In my early life, I experienced success well in school and sports and was often chosen to be the leader of whatever group I was part of. I also enjoyed the honor of being the one who many consulted for advice when they had troubles. Upon entering the adult world, I also did well financially and for a time was the envy of my peers. I was a very wise and intelligent person and although I said believed in God, I was not a Christian. No, I was a person who was smart enough to understand the need for good morals in my life without the baggage of religion.

Well, maybe we haven’t shared in all of those experiences, but there is one thing that I think is the root of my concerns for you- you are intelligent and charismatic, and you love people. It is with these gifts that we trust we can decide there are parts of Christianity we want in our lives and parts of Christianity we do not. We can conclude that Christianity in essence, is deficient, and we can easily see those deficiencies in how Christians sometimes handle homosexuality, racism, and other hot button topics in the world we live in. And in light of the fact that Christianity is good but deficient, we can take the good and look to supplement it with other proclamations of truth. We can create our own wisdom for life.

But here is what I have to tell you, and I know it may be offensive but…. You have been fooled. You have been fooled in the same way that I was. I thought I knew Christianity and what I needed was to patch together a system of religion that would work for me. I thought I was smart enough to discern what non-Christian sources I needed to have a happy life. I was confident that I had it figured out. That is, until I didn’t. And I didn’t come to the realization that all of my intelligence, wit, and wonderful me, was really nothing until my world came crashing in around me. It was at the point when I heard words from the Bible, and only the Bible, I changed my view of myself and God and committed my life- my entire life- to Jesus Christ.

And I learned that it wasn’t Christianity that was deficient; it was the people, including me, who were deficient. People who say they are Christians don’t become perfect. In fact, the Bible clearly states that they will never become perfect no matter how long they walk this earth. Why? Because they are still broken sinners who will struggle to control their desires to be hateful, slanderous, idolatrous people. And by the way, the Bible is honest with us and tells us that some of the people who say they are Christians actually are not! As time has passed in my Christian life, I have learned to adjust my expectations not of God, but of people.

I have also learned that there is no room for any other so called wisdom or help for the problems that we face because all of our problems originate in our inability to consistently be kind, thoughtful, and loving towards others. History has shown us that even though men have gained vast amounts of knowledge over thousands of years, it has not produced even the slightest amount of change in the character and heart of a person. The greatest minds of science, philosophy, and psychiatry, have not be able to solve this problem because they too, are flawed and broken at the fundamental core of their beings.

There is only one place for a person to find what we are all seeking and it’s actually not a place, but a person, and He tells us no lies and never sugar coats the experiences we will have during our lifetimes. Jesus Christ is the source of all the wisdom and peace a person can have in this world. Jesus Christ is the source of all the power we need to change from the person we were when we met Him, to a person who is more loving, more patient, more self-controlled, and so much more. He is not deficient in any way.

But in order to know Him and experience life with Him, He demands all of you. That means that agreeing with some of what He says while you disagree with other things will not do. That means He will not allow you to mix His commands and precepts with the precepts of men. It means you cannot trust His power to save you and the world of psychiatry to save you at the same time. He is not deficient in ability to do all things. He is, in fact, sufficient for all things.

At the end of the day, we will agree that many professing Christians are deficient in their personal Christianity. But you must not conclude that Christianity itself, it’s teachings as found in the Bible and the Lord of Christianity as its Head, are deficient. In the final analysis, it does not matter what anyone else is doing in this world. What matters is what you do. Let every man be a liar but know that Jesus Christ is true. I hope we can continue to talk about these things.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Carrying20a20heavy20heart.mp3Show Me The Money!

It’s 1996 and a new movie, called Jerry McGuire, is released. The story follows the life of a high level professional sports agent whose life has been all about accumulating wealth through his slick marketing and negotiating skills. Then suddenly, he changes his view on life and work and as a result, loses all but one client. As Jerry McGuire once was, this one professional athlete is completely focused on himself and making money. At one point in his conversations with Jerry, he makes clear that there is only one thing that Jerry can do that will prove his worth as his agent and he repeatedly shouts, “Show me the money!”

Show me the money! That also was my daily roar prior to the day I was saved in 1993. I thought I was smart and slick, and I was very successful at accumulating wealth, that is, until I wasn’t. Or better said, until God said, “you are not.” Previous to that, my pursuit of money was used by the devil to keep me in blindness until God in His mercy gave me new eyes to see. Once I was able to see my greed and coveting, I stopped yelling to the world, “show me the money.” In fact, I went to the extreme opposite end of the attitude spectrum and no longer cared about money at all. But even after my salvation, thinking biblically about money has been a challenge from time to time. It has proven to me to be a great temptation and the power of it never completely goes away.

Listen to 1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Speaking as a man who has loved money in the past and a person who has known so many people who have fallen into this terrible temptation, I implore you to listen carefully to God’s word and examine yourself to see if you have fallen or are in the process of falling, into this terrible snare.

First, see that it is a snare. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare.” Snares are not things that you see and decide to fall into them. No, snares are hidden traps, and these traps are the work of the devil. Typically, snares have some kind of bait or motivating factor for the victim to draw close to it. In this case, it is the desire to be rich. Unfortunately, for all the blessings that we have living in America, we also have the curse of being trained to think achieving wealth is the American dream. I’m afraid that we often attribute the devil’s work to particularly devilish people, but we miss the fact that the devil has created world systems that are designed to blind or mislead people into destruction. Every Christian needs to carefully examine not only a particular person who might lead them into a trap or snare but examine the big picture system that they are living in and discern whether or not that system of thinking and what it leads to is something pleasing to God.

Next, hear Paul when he says, “into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” What are these senseless and harmful desires and how do they result in ruin and destruction? We need to think about how much time and energy we are spending in a desire to accumulate wealth. It is not just the number of hours a person might work but it is also examining their thought life. How much time do you spend just thinking and strategizing about increasing wealth? There’s a simple calculation that follows. If a person spends inordinate amounts of time related to wealth accumulation, he will not be able to spend the proper amount of time that’s necessary to love his wife, grow his marriage, and train up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is inevitable-something has to give.

In fact, it is inevitable that the powerful desire to accumulate wealth and its ultimate manifestation in idolatry, will destroy a person’s relationship with the Lord. The verses from first Timothy we are looking at here are not alone, as there are many other warnings from the Lord in his Bible. Jesus himself said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Paul continues, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Looking back to the time when I loved money, I remember my own heart and when you are intent on accumulating wealth and it’s time to do your taxes, you are tempted to cheat. I know that if I incorrectly received money through a company’s mistake in their billing, I was tempted to keep it instead of notifying them of the mistake. I know that when I needed to apply for a loan, I was tempted to lie on the application. Even when I was selling a car I owned and knew of something mechanically wrong, I was tempted to keep the fault hidden. I could go on but the point I hope I have made is the love of money will affect almost every area of your life. There are evils in getting more money, evils in having it, and evils in holding on to it.

Back to the passage we read, “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” For me, my love for money did not result in me wandering away from the faith because I had none. In fact, the Lord used my idolatry to bring me to faith when He graciously destroyed the financial idols that I had built and showed me my wicked heart. But in the process, I did feel those pangs. I recall the times of slowly losing all that I worked tirelessly to build and sitting in my office at the end of the day feeling hopeless and desperate as the Lord continued to do the work needed to make me look to Him. Many, many pangs.

But for the one who professes to be a Christian, the temptation to love money can be a test of one’s faith. Please note that Paul says that some who have fallen into the snare of loving money, have “wandered” from the faith. This is something that we must understand is gradual. He did not write that they “ran” from the faith, or that they “denied” the faith. Those would be descriptions of a person who made a definitive stand against the Lord. No, he uses a word that describes a person’s faith in terms of a person confused or lacking direction, or maybe even stumbling about. I believe Paul is describing something that may be subtle and develop over time, making it difficult for a person to see the danger ahead.

I hope you see the danger the love of money can bring into your life. Paul writes to the Ephesian church and says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Paul also gives us the antidote for the love of money in the previous 2 verses. In 1 Timothy 6:6-8, he writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Essentially, it is about striving to realize that our deep desires must be about growing in our love and obedience to God and remembering that all material wealth is fleeting. Therefore, we should be content with the minimum needed to sustain our lives and serve the Lord. It is about not thinking like the world but thinking like Christ.

One more point needs to be made: money is not an evil. God may choose to bless the finances of some more than others and in whatever we have, we are to remember that it is God’s money and we are only stewards. What is evil is our own hearts and that is where the battle is won or lost. How about you? Are you fixated on making money? Are your days dominated by your quest for wealth?

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Carrying20a20heavy20heart.mp3Carrying A Heavy Heart For A Friend Or Loved One.

Listen to the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:1-3:

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

Here we see Paul’s heart for the Jewish people and all those who had yet to put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah. He says that he would exchange his salvation in Christ Jesus for the Jews acceptance of Jesus. Should we take that literally? Absolutely not. Paul knew that God’s electing love and grace to Paul was not something that could be bartered with or exchanged for another. What this does tell us is Paul’s loving concern and desire for his people’s salvation was so deep, he could only express it as giving up something of value that could not be surpassed- his relationship with Jesus Christ. Can we relate to Paul’s yearnings?

Besides the gift of salvation, there is no greater gift for Christian man or woman than to wake up each day and face whatever comes knowing that your Father is a sovereign God who rules and reigns over every molecule in the universe and promises to love you beyond what you can even imagine. It is that inexplicable joy that transcends even the worst trials and challenges that come into our lives.

However, there is a terrible joy-killer for the Christian. It happens when the Christian considers the spiritual condition of friends and loved ones and finds that they have no relationship with the King of glory and therefore, are going through each day under the wrath of God. In those moments, joy is replaced by a terrible weight on the heart.

Should those unsaved loved ones be your children, your mind is likely to be flooded by questions related to the possible failure of your parenting. Questions such as-

• Did I not spend enough time with my child in those early years?
• Did they not know how much I love them, as if not loving them enough could be the reason why they have rejected Christ?
• Did I not create a reverence for God in my household?
• Did I fail them by not having times of family devotions?
• Did I instill in them the very things that they struggle with such as a quick temper or impatience, because they were just learning those things from me?
• Are they rejecting God because they felt rejected and neglected by me?
• Did I over emphasize the law of God which fostered a heart of rebellion?
• Did I overemphasize the grace of God which fostered a heart of irreverence?
• Did I lay a foundation of powdered concrete only to see their hearts harden when they were watered by the world?

Those are just some of the questions that might come into a Christian parent’s mind as they earnestly seek an answer as to why their children don’t believe. It is true that these things may have had some influence in the heart and mind of a child, but none of them are the ultimate reason for their spiritual condition. The ultimate reason for their spiritual condition is their refusal to bow the knee to Jesus Christ. They were born into this world with a sinful heart parents don’t create and apart from the saving work of God, that sinful heart will manifest itself in all sorts of worldviews that are contrary to God and all His ways.

In my own life, I carry a weight for a handful of friends and loved ones but even in this yearning of my heart, God has used this burden to deepen my belief in His scriptures because I have found the description of every person who does not believe.

For example, you may know a person who makes prodigious plans for their life and spends much of their time telling others what they are going to accomplish. They have bought into the world’s mantra of simply believing in yourself and believing that you can do whatever you set your mind on. This is the classic example of a person who does not understand they are but a mist and if God does not will it to happen, it never will (James 4: 13-17).

Or you may know a person who seems to be very interested in Christianity but cannot decide for Christ. Instead of looking forward to the changes that Christ will make in their lives, they fear those changes and ironically, prefer to find their safety in doing nothing. They are more comfortable in their sin then accepting a path to freedom from that bondage (Romans 6).

You probably know a person who has chosen to save the planet. After three generations of earth saviors, we find yet another twist to what God demands of all people. While stewardship of God’s creation is pleasing to God, the passion to save animals, climate, trees, and so on, without a passion for God that far exceeds the passion for His creation, is a sin that God explains in Romans 1:18-23.

Perhaps you know a person like Agrippa in Acts 26 who was interested in hearing Paul and even considered the idea that Paul might persuade him to become a Christian but was too “smart” to open his heart to the gospel. Those who are wise in their own eyes create a barrier to believing because God has promised to resist the proud (James 4:6).

And then there is the rejection of God because He should have stopped such and such from happening; or because they do not believe the world has been changed by Christianity; or because they do not physically see His hand in action. Even though God has made Himself clearly seen in His creation (Romans 1), they continue to suppress the truth set before them, demanding more proof (Matthew 13:38-42).

Related to this person is the person who says that he actually does believe in God but refuses to believe vast swaths of the Bible. He creates his own God and religion. He sets the standard for God and Who He should be. He decides the attributes of God, not God. He decides what is true and right and as long as he is comfortable with it, he settles his mind and conscience.

For the Christian, it is not only painful to see their friends and loved ones living their lives with these kinds of mindsets, but also to see them struggle through stress, anxiety, and the constant search for joy and happiness in places where they will never find it. And the clock is ticking. With each passing day without Christ, the heart is growing harder. You know that at any time, God may end their time on earth. You know that there has been a day that has been appointed (Hebrews 9:27).

What can we do? Is there anything that might change the heart and mind of these precious loved ones and friends? Yes, there is much, but none of it will come without effort.

1. We must strive to maintain our relationships so if there is a time when God begins to move their hearts, we will be in a position to communicate truth.
2. Our behavior and speech must reflect God’s work in us.
3. We must never stop talking about Christ. There can be no hiding our light under a basket (Matt. 14:16).
4. We must not rush our conversations. If God gives us the opportunity to speak, we must remember that the number or wisdom of our words will not be the deciding factor in the conversation- it will be God. Remember Jesus and the disciples. They walked with Him for three years but still did not fully understand until the Holy Spirit came to teach them.
5. We must be gentle in our conversations (2 Timothy 2:25). Pressing forward for a decision or showing frustration to our friend or loved one will likely provoke a defensive reaction.
6. We must wait. No, not wait on them, but to wait on God. Our loved ones and friends are in a terrible place of blindness and only the Spirit can blow life into their hearts and minds (John 3).
7. We must trust in the goodness of God. He is not a God who enjoys the destruction of the lost He is a God of mercy (2 Peter 3:9). We must preach that to ourselves.
8. We must never give up hope no matter what the situation. With man, many things are impossible, but with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).
9. Ironically, this may be the hardest thing for a Christian to do but is certainly the most powerful use of our time. Why is it so hard? Well, that’s for another article. But consider the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18:1: “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”

And one more thing to consider: our hearts for the lost (evangelism) and any actions that follow are tests for us. That is, as the Lord places these situations providentially in our lives, will we be faithful to do what He has called us to do as those who should be compelled to grow His kingdom and His glory? Much to think about.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Concern-for-other-mens-souls.mp3Hello brothers and sisters,

This week, and maybe for a few more, I am going to record selected sermons from the great Charles Spurgeon. There is no recording of Spurgeon’s voice so you have nothing to compare this to and that is probably a very good thing! If you found these sermons to be helpful to you, please send me a quick note so I know whether or not to continue this part of Cherish Ephesians 6:4. Thanks!

Concern for Other Men’s Souls

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the
Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in mine heart. For
I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman
according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the
glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the
promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 9. 1-5.

What an intense man Paul was. Once convince him, and his whole nature moved in the direction which he judged to be right. He was whole-hearted when he persecuted the church of God, and he was equally whole-hearted when afterwards he laboured with all his might to build up the church which he had sought to destroy. I would to God we were all as thorough-going in the service of our Lord. The pity is that so many professing Christians appear to have no heart, while others borrow a heart for occasions, but do not seem to keep one permanently beating in their own bosoms. O for a warm, engine-like heart, all consecrated, and forever pulsing mightily.

What a change was wrought in Saul of Tarsus, that he who was so ardent a persecutor should become so fervent a preacher! His conversion is one of the proofs of the divinity of Christianity.

The study of the story of Paul was the means of the conversion of Lord Lyttleton, who read it with the design of exposing it as an imposture. His friend Gilbert West was at the same time considering the resurrection of our Lord in a similar spirit, and happily with the same result: the friends met to unite in the joint conviction that the Bible is the word of God. Dr. Johnson says of Lyttleton’s “Observations upon the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul,” “it is a treatise to which infidelity has never been able to fabricate a specious answer.”

Consider for a moment the renowned conversion of Paul. It was singulary opportune that just at that period when the church wanted such a man, the apostle with his remarkable education, his noble purpose, and his acquaintance with Jewish and Greek literature, should have been called out from the world and placed in the very forefront of the battle for Christ. Truly might he say that he was not a whit behind the very chief of the apostles, though in his humility he felt himself to be nothing. No name in the Christian church can be pronounced with greater honor after that of our glorious Master than the name of Paul, who was indeed a wise master-builder. When you remember what he was by nature you will marvel at the extraordinary change of thought and feeling which was wrought in him! He who was cruel to the saints, who gave his voice against Stephen and held the garments of those that stoned him, became tenderhearted as a nurse towards her child. Though his Jewish brethren terribly persecuted him, and pursued him from city to city, there is not a trace of resentment in any word he writes, but he is full of gentleness. The lion had become a lamb, and he that breathed out threatenings breathed out prayers! He who seemed to burn with enmity became a flame of love.

Dear friends, before we go any further, pause and answer this question, — Has such a change as this been wrought in you? Perhaps you have never been conspicuously a blasphemer or a persecutor as Paul was, but still if converted there will have been a very wonderful change in you. Old things will have passed away and all things will have become new. Do you feel that, and do you recognize the change both in your inner and outer life? If not, ye must be born again. Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Our first thought after reading this passage is, what a wonderfully tender and loving preacher Paul must have been. One of the early fathers was wont to say that he wished he could have seen Solomon’s temple in its glory, Rome in its prosperity, and Paul preaching. I think the last the grandest sight of the three. Oh, to have heard him speak! It might have shamed us into deeper tones of earnestness. Though, I suppose, his oratory was not very astonishing as mere rhetoric, for some said his speech was contemptible, yet it must have been wonderfully powerful upon the heart, for it abounded in sighs and tears and other tokens of evident emotion; besides, his awful intensity of look and tone must have made his discourses irresistible. He would never have written as he has done in his epistles if he had been one who could speak with icicles hanging about his lips. He must have spoken from a burning heart, which shot forth red-hot bolts of fiery words. He poured his language out like lava from a volcano, from the flaming furnace of his soul; hence his sentences burned their way into the hearts of those who heard him.

Brother, if you are called to preach the gospel, let Paul be your model. I reckon that we never preach aright unless we pour out our inmost soul, and unless we long and hunger and thirst for the conversion of our hearers, we might as well be in bed and asleep. We shall teach them to be indifferent if we ourselves are indifferent. If it will satisfy us to read through a little essay or to speak a few godly words without heart and life, we are not called to the ministry: we are not sent, for we feel no woe upon us; we have not the anointing, for the live coal from off the altar has never blistered our lips. John Bunyan says that he often felt while preaching that he could give his own salvation for the salvation of his hearers; and I pity the man who has not felt the same. To preach with the harps of angels ringing in your ears, anxious that all your hearers should stand at last amongst the elect company above, or to preach with the groans of hell rising into your ears and piercing your heart, anxious beyond all things that no man who listens to your voice should ever come into that place of torment, — this is the Pauline style. The style of Demosthenes, the manner of Cicero, the method of the forum— these are nothing. Commend me to the eloquence of Paul, and to the oratory of his Master; for Paul was a great preacher because he caught his Master’s spirit and spoke in the manner of him of whom they said of old “Never man spake like this man.”

Now coming to the text and dwelling upon it, I shall want to notice first, the persons about whom Paul felt the anxiety which he expresses; then, secondly, we shall look further into the character of that anxiety; and, lastly, we shall dwell awhile upon the excellence of each one of us feeling just as Paul did, for a thousand good results would follow if God the Spirit would bring us to the same condition of heart.

I. First, then, who are these people for whom Paul was anxious beyond measure and out of bounds?

To begin with: They were his worst enemies. The name of Paul brought the blood into the face of a Jew. He spat in rage. More than forty of them had bound themselves with an oath that they would slay him, and the whole company of the circumcised seemed, wherever he went, to be moved by the same impulse. He frequently gathered large congregations of Gentiles who attended to him earnestly, but the Jews stirred up riots and mobs, and, frequently, he was in danger of his life from them. They detested him; regarding him as an accursed apostate from the faith of his fathers. Remembering how earnest he had been against Christ, they could not believe in his sincerity when he became a Christian, or, if they did, they hated him as a fanatic whose delusion was beyond measure mischievous. His generous retaliation was to pray for them, nay, more, to carry the whole nation on his heart as a burden. “I have continual heaviness,” says he, “and sorrow of heart for my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

Now, if any of you in following Christ should meet with opposition, avenge it in the same way. Love most the man who treats you worst. If any man would kill you in his anger, kill him with your loving prayers. If he smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also in submission, and lift both hands and eyes to heaven and cry, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Never let oppressors see your anger rise. They will observe your emotion and your grief, and they will perceive that you are naturally vexed and troubled, but let them also see that you bear them no malice, but desire their welfare. I commend this to those who have a hard fight for Christ in the workroom, in the midst of sneers and jests. Never use the devil’s weapons, though they lie very handy, and look very suitable. Only use Christ’s omnipotent weapon of love, so shall ye be his disciples.

Next, these people for whom Paul was in so much concern were his kinsfolk according to the flesh. It is well said that charity must begin at home, for he that does not care for his own household is worse than a heathen man and a publican. He who does not desire the salvation of those who are his own kith and kin, “how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Christianity is expansive, it makes the bosom glow with love to all that God has made; but, at the same time, our love does not expand so as to lose force; and this is seen when it turns its power towards those who are nearest home. Is thy husband unsaved? O woman, love him to Christ! Is thy child unconverted? O parent, pray that child to Christ! Are your neighbours still out of Christ? Lay them on your heart as an intercessor before God on their account, and cease not to plead till they are saved. Think much of the heathen: by all means regard India and China, and the like, but do not forget Newington Butts, and Lambeth and Southwark, or wherever else it is your lot to live. Next to your homes let your own neighbourhoods be first of all considered, and then your country, for all Englishmen are akin. Wherever we wander we are proud of our common country, and, like the Romans of old, we are somewhat quick to make known our citizenship; therefore, let us never cease to plead for this beloved island and our kinsmen according to the flesh. For his countrymen Paul prayed, and never let us bear within our bones a soul so dead as to forget our native land.

We may regard those for whom he prayed in the next light as persons of great privileges: a very important point. They had privileges by birth, — “Who are Israelites.” Many of you are highly favored: you are not Israelites, but you are the children of godly parents, which is much the same thing. Almost the first sound you ever heard from your mother’s lip was the voice of prayer for you. You can recollect when you were taken for the first time to the house of prayer, when, perhaps, you did not understand anything, but still your godly friends thought it well that you should sit in your earliest days in the courts of the Lord’s house? In that sense you are like the Jews. You have the privilege of being born in the midst of holy and gracious influences: an advantage not to be despised. Those poor gutter children, born we scarcely know where, who pine in poverty and breathe an atmosphere of vice; whose young ears are from the first so much acquainted with the voice of blasphemy, that they will never tingle should the profanity of hell be let loose around them— those, I say, start in the race of life under terrible disadvantages. And you, some of you, have had everything in your favor; for you the path of right is smooth, and there are many beckoning you to walk in it, and yet we tremble for you, lest you, with other children of the kingdom, should be cast out, while many come from the east and from the west and sit down at the banquet of grace. If there are any people we ought to pray for above others, it seems to me they are the unconverted who live in the light but will not see; who have the bread of heaven upon the table before them but will not eat; who have free grace and dying love sounding in their ears, but yet refuse the wondrous message of grace. Beloved, let us not rest unless we feel a deep solicitude for those who stand on a par with Israelites, since they have the privilege of being born under a Christian roof.

The objects of Paul’s prayer had yet a higher privilege, for it is said, “to whom pertainith the adoption.” There was an outward adoption. “Israel is my first-born,” saith God. Israel enjoyed national advantages; and we also, living in such a land as this, possess innumerable gospel privileges. England is, as it were, the favorite of heaven. God has been pleased to adopt the nation as his child, giving it special liberty, an open Bible, the free proclamation of the gospel, and the church of God in the midst of it to be its light. To Israel belonged the glory, too; that is to say, God had revealed himself in their midst from the mercy seat in the bright light of the shekinah. And, oh, in this very house of prayer, I am sure I may say it, the Lord has manifested his glory very wonderfully. How many hundreds have been turned from darkness to light in this place! At times the power of God has been gloriously revealed. It was so last Sunday evening. We felt it, we distinctly recognized it, and we are looking for many to come forward to declare what God did for souls on that occasion. Well, then, if you have seen this glory, if you have heard the glorious gospel, if you have felt in some degree the working of the gracious Spirit and have had some longings, some wishes, towards salvation, what a sad thing will it be if after all you should be cast away! I do fear me that this will be true of many of you, and I have great heaviness in my heart at the thought.

And then they had the first hold of all the spiritual gifts which the Lord bestowed upon the sons of men. They had as it were a monopoly of light and truth among them. The Jewish people had been singularly favored: they had seen God revealing his Son to them by types, by priests, by sacrifices, by the temple, by a thousand signs and marks. Verily the kingdom of God had come very near to them. But the privileges of the Jews were not greater than the privileges of men and women who hear the gospel in these days, for Christ is not so well seen in bleeding bullocks and rams and hyssop and scarlet wool as he is seen in the preaching of the gospel. In the gospel God has rent the veil, and made bare his heart to us in the person of his dying Son. You have no longer to spell out the mind of God by mysterious hieroglyphs; it is written in plain letters, and the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein. You have but to hear it, and with the exercise of an ordinary understanding the letter of its meaning may be comprehended, and if there be a willing heart, no matter how small the capacity of the mind, there is intellect enough to receive the saving truth. Ye do not now live in the moonlight of the Jewish dispensation, but ye bask in the noontide sunlight of truth. God who spake to our fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son who is the express image of his person and the brightness of his glory. “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.” Because we fear you may do so our heart is heavy, and we have sorrow of heart for some of you. We are distressed for you whose feeling comes and goes like the midnight meteor. Your case is one of such peril that we are deeply concerned about you. O God, help all thy servants to feel what a dreadful thing it will be for persons so highly privileged to be lost forever.

I should not have completed the subject if I did not say that Paul had a great solicitude for these people because he saw them living in the commission of great sin. Some of them were exceedingly moral, and the bulk of them extremely religious, and yet they were living in gross sin. Lo you know what is the greatest of sins? It is to be at enmity with God. The most damning of iniquities is to refuse Christ. Did God send out of his bosom his only-begotten Son to die for men, and do men reject him? Ah, this is worse than rejecting the law, worse than rejecting the gospel, for it is a direct personal insult to the loving God— this rejecting the Son of God, his only Son, his bleeding, dying Son. Here sin reaches its climax and surpasses itself in infamy.

These men rejected Christ and set up their phylacteries, their paying of tithes of annise and mint and cummin, their fasting thrice in the week, and I know not what trifles besides, in insulting competition with the Savior. In the same manner at this hour many persons value their external religiousness above faith in Jesus. They attend to the ceremonies of this church or of the other, and refuse the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. The greatest of sins lies there. Ye may as easily be lost religiously as irreligiously unless your religion is God’s religion and is based upon faith in his dear Son. This grieved the apostle, that they were mad against him whom they ought to have loved, and were violent against him in whom they should have believed, so that they had become a race anathematized from Christ. I know he means that, because he says he could wish that he himself could stand in their place, and take that anathema upon himself which he felt was upon them. They had said “His blood be on us and on our children,” and Paul knew that it would be. He remembered the Master’s words when he said “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not. Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” He could see in spirit the siege of Jerusalem, the most tremendous of all slaughters, the most fearful of all scenes of blood enacted on the face of the earth; and his heart sank within him, and his spirit quailed at the thought of the tremendous judgment.

Some in these days describe the penalty of sin as though it were a trifle. I beseech you do not regard them. If I had one lying dying before me whom I loved, if I was in any fear about the salvation of that dying person, I would not say “Perhaps when you go out of this world you may be unsaved, but there is a larger hope; and I would not have you distress yourself about immediate repentance, for mercy may come to you in another state.” Sirs, I dare no more talk thus than administer a draught of poison to one I love. No, rather would I say. “My brother, my sister, it is now or never with you. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: for when once the Master of the house hath risen up and shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock, and to say ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us,’ he will not say ‘Wait a while: I will open by-and-by,’ but his final reply will be, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.’” There is no hope of blessing for those who die impenitent anyhow or anywhen, but they must depart, depart, depart, and that forever. O my hearer, I beseech you do not run the risk of the everlasting wrath of God. May God help you by his infinite mercy to feel how terrible a thing it is to be out of Christ, for our God is a consuming fire, and it is written, “Beware ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.”

Now the thought of all this made the apostle feel great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for his brethren, his kinsfolk according to the flesh. If he had thought that they would be annihilated, when they died he would have had no heaviness about them. If men and women are nothing after all but cats and dogs, and have no immortal souls, I for one will never bother my head about them. If they can die, let them die: it is nothing to me that they should be immortal. It is because I know that they are immortal and if they die unsaved they will have for ever to endure the wrath of God, that my soul feels, and desires to feel more than ever, a continual heaviness of heart concerning every unsaved soul that still lives. God grant us more of this heaviness of spirit. May we be deeply pained by that dread, awful, overwhelming, I will even dare to add, horrifying thought of souls being lost forever.

II. I have spoken enough, then, as to the persons for whom Paul was anxious. Now let us notice, secondly, HIS DESCRIPTION OF THIS ANXIETY, which was very truthful. There was no sham about it. It is pretty easy to work yourself up into a state of feeling; but it was not passing emotion with Paul, it was deep, true, constant grief. He says, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.” He did not fancy that he felt, but he really felt heart-breakings for guilty souls. He did not sometimes get up into that condition or down into it, but he lived in it. “I lie not,” he says, “I do not speak more than the truth. I do not exaggerate.” For fear he should not be believed he asseverates as strongly as is allowed to a Christian man, “I say the truth in Christ. I lie not.” His was true heaviness, real sorrow. Do we feel the same, or is it only a little excitement at a revival meeting, a chance feeling which passes over us through sympathy with other people who are earnest? May the Lord plough your soul deep, dear friend. If he means you to be a soul winner, he will. May the ploughers make deep furrows upon your heart, as once they did upon your Master’s back. You are not fit to carry souls on your heart till it has been bruised with grief for them. You must feel deeply for the souls of men if you are to bless them.

Paul’s feeling was very gracious. It was not an animal feeling, or a natural feeling; it was a gracious feeling, for he says, “I say the truth in Christ” “When he was nearest to his Lord, when he felt most his union with Christ, and communion with him, then he felt that he did mourn over men’s souls. It was truth in Christ that he was expressing, because he was one with Christ. He had a love for sinners because his very soul was knit to Christ. He had a heaviness such as his Master knew when he also was very heavy, and sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane, in the day of his passion.

O beloved, we want the Spirit of God to work this feeling in us. It is of no use to try to get it by reading books, or to pump yourself up to it in private; this feeling is the work of God. A soul-winner is a creation. As a Christian has to be created, so out of a Christian the soul winner has to be fashioned. There has to be a careful preparation, a softening of the soul to make the worker know how naturally to care for the welfare of others. Paul had been trained and qualified for soul-saving work.

He says that his conscience bare him witness that he spake the truth, and then he says the Holy Spirit bore witness with his conscience. May we have such a manifest love for sinners that we can ask the Holy Ghost to bear witness that we have it. Brothers, sisters, I am sometimes afraid that our zeal for conversion would not stand the test of the Holy Ghost. Perhaps we want to increase our denomination, or enlarge our church for our own honor; or we want to get credit for doing good, or to feel that we have power and influence over others. None of these motives can be tolerated: our concern for souls must be wrought in us by the Holy Ghost. It must come irresistibly upon us, and become a master passion. Just as the birds, when the eggs are in the nest, have upon them what the Greeks call a στοργη, a natural feeling, that they must sit on those eggs, and that they must feed those little fledglings which will come from the eggs; so if God calls you to win souls, you will have a natural love for them, a longing wrought in you by the Holy Spirit, so that the whole of your being will run out in that direction, seeking the salvation of men.

Then the apostle goes on to say that he had great heaviness, not only heaviness, but great heaviness. Was he, therefore, an unhappy man? By no means: he had great joy in other things, though he had great heaviness on this point. We are not to imagine that Paul went about publicly groaning and sighing because Israel was not saved. Oh, no. He rejoiced in the Lord and bade others rejoice. But still there was the skeleton in the closet; a silent heartbreaking grief was on him. We are many men in one, and each man is a very complicated piece of mental machinery. We can be in great heaviness and in great exaltation at the same time. Whenever Paul’s thoughts turned towards his brethren, a great heaviness came upon him. It bore him down, and he would have sunk under it if it had not been for sustaining grace. “O God,” he said, “shall my nation perish? Shall my people die? Shall my kinsmen be anathema? Shall it come to this, that they shall hear the gospel in vain and perish after all?”

He had great heaviness, and he tells us that this did not come on him at times, but that he always felt it whenever his thoughts turned that way: I have “continual sorrow in my heart.” In his very heart, for it was not a superficial desire; a continual sorrow, for it was no fitful emotion. It always grieved him to think that his kinsmen should reject Christ. He thought of Jerusalem and of its doom; he thought of his brethren and their unbelief, and then he thought of how they had been the enemies of Christ, and therefore sorrow filled his heart. I could wish that in full many a professor the selfsame sorrow reigned, for then there would be much more holy work done for souls.

The strongest expression which Paul uses is that which is contained in the third verse, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” The margin reads, “separated from Christ.” Now this text has so puzzled the expositors that they have done their very best to kill it and tear out its bowels, to get rid of its obvious meaning. They have invented all kinds of interpretations, such as that he did once wish himself separated from Christ. Now, do you think the apostle Paul would have begun by saying, “I say the truth in Christ. I lie not,” and so on, if after all that mountain of expression he was going to bring out this little insignificant sense, that once upon a time he also wished to be separated from Christ? Besides, the Greek does not bear such a preposterous rendering. Our version has given as fully as it could the meaning of the apostle. The gentlemen who like to dissect texts and pull them to pieces say, “Well, but he could not have wished to be an enemy to Christ, an enemy to God, and to be lost, and yet he could not be lost without being an enemy to Jesus.” My dear friends, if you take passionate expressions to pieces with icy hands, you will never understand anything which comes from the heart. Of course the apostle never thought of wishing that he could be an enemy to Christ, but he did sometimes look at the misery which comes upon those who are separated from Christ, until he felt that if he could save his kinsmen by his own destruction, ay, by himself enduring their heavy punishment, he could wish to stand in their stead. He did not say that he ever did wish it, but he felt as if he could wish it when his heart was warm. His case was parallel with that of Moses when he prayed the Lord to spare the people and said, “If not, blot my name out of the Book of Life.” Do you think he wished it done? No, it was because that blotting out would have been to him the most horrible thing supposable that therefore he went even to that length for the good of his people. Because the last of all things the apostle could have thought of was being separated from Christ, therefore he says there were times when he could even have borne that most horrible, unthinkable thing, if he could but have saved the people. Is there a minister of Christ who has not sometimes used expressions which cool logic could never justify? Why, sirs, love knows nothing of grammar even in its common talk. A true passion grinds words to dust. When the heart is full of love even the boldest hyperboles are simple truths. Extravagances are the natural expression of warm hearts even in ordinary things, and when a man’s whole soul gets seething like a caldron and boiling like a pot with sympathy and pity for men that are being lost, he speaks what in cold blood he never would have said.

What the cool doctrinalist pulls to pieces, and the critic of words regards as being altogether absurd, true zeal nevertheless feels. Some of us have felt at times that our lives would have been cheaply spent a thousand times over by the bloodiest and most cruel deaths, if we could save our hearers; and there have been moments of passion when we have been ready to say, “Ah, if even my destruction could save them, I could almost go that length.” Why this is Christ’s method: this is Christ’s method. “He saved others, himself he could not save.” It may be an extravagance in us, since we are not able to redeem our brother or give to God a ransom, but it is a blessed extravagance. Men are extravagantly prudent nowadays, extravagantly dubious, extravagantly profane; and some of them extravagantly able to deny what their conscience must know is true; they may therefore well permit the minister of Christ to be extravagant in his love for others. I like a bit of hyperbole in our hymns, for instance I admire the extravagance of that verse of Addison’s:

“But, oh, eternity’s too short
To utter half his praise.”

A gentleman said to me, “That cannot be, because eternity cannot be short, and therefore it cannot be too short.” If the Lord had put a drop of poetry into that critic’s nature he would not have dealt so hardly with the poet’s language: and if the same Lord had put a little of the fire of grace into the nature of some hard-headed commentators, they would have understood that this passage is not meant to be cut to pieces and discussed, but it is intended to be taken boiling hot and poured upon the enemy, after the fashion of the olden times, when they poured melted lead or boiling pitch upon the besiegers who wished to take a tower or city. Such a text as this must be fired off red-hot; it spoils if it cools. It is a heart business, not a head business. The apostle means us to understand that there was nothing which he would not suffer if he might save his kindred according to the flesh.

III. Well, now, I close my sermon by speaking upon THE EXCELLENCIES OF THIS SPIRIT, because I pray the Lord to work it in each of you. I wish all felt it, but there are generally some in every church who will never warm up to the right point. If we could once get the whole church up to blood heat we might be content. I never want you to get to fever heat, but to blood heat— the heat of the blood of Christ— to love as he loved. Oh, to get there and to keep there!

Well, what would be the result, if we did feel as Paul did?

The first effect would be likeness to Christ. After that manner he loved. He did become a curse for us. He did enter under the awful shadow of Jehovah’s wrath for us. He did what Paul could wish, but could not do. He passed under the awful sword that we might be delivered from its edge forever. Brethren, I want you to feel that you would pass under poverty if you could save souls better by being poor; that you would gladly endure sickness if from your sick bed you could speak better for Christ than now; ay, and that you would be ready to die, if your death might give life to those dear to you. I heard of a dear girl the other day, who said to her pastor “I could never bring my father to hear you, but I have prayed for him long, and God will answer my request. Now, dear pastor,” she said, “you will bury me, won’t you? My father must come and hear you speak at my grave. Do speak to him. God will bless him.” And he did, and her father was converted. The death of his child brought him to Christ. Oh to be willing to die if others may be saved from the death eternal. God give us just such a spirit as that. This should be our constant feeling; how else can we become like Christ?

If we have this spirit it will save us from selfishness. They say— but it is a great falsehood— that we teach people to look after their own salvation, and then being saved we bid them wrap themselves up in self-content. Was anything ever spoken more contrary to fact? We do urge men to seek to be saved from sin. How can they bear to abide in it? But the first instinct of a saved soul, to which we continually appeal, is a longing to bring others to Christ. Yet, brethren, lest there should grow up in your spirit any of that Pharisaic selfishness which was seen in the elder brother in the parable, ask to feel a heaviness for your prodigal younger brother, who is still feeding swine. Pray for him that he may come to his father’s house. It will keep your soul sweet if you open the window of sympathy, and let the heavenly air of love blow through you.

This will save you from any difficulty about forgiving other people. I do not suppose that Paul forgave the Jews for what they did to him, because he never went the length of thinking that he had anything to forgive. He loved them so much that he took their ill usage without anger or resentment. He loved them, therefore he bore with them. You will bear with those who scoff at you, and you will put up with the idleness of the boys and girls in your class, if you love them. Love mankind with all your soul, and you will feel no difficulty in exercising patience, forbearance, and forgiveness.

This spirit will also keep you from very many other griefs. Some people are always fretty for want of something to fret about. No people are more uneasy than those who have nothing to do, and nothing to think about; such persons keep a little growlery in the house, and use it as a trouble factory, where they invent grievances. There are people that I know of who ought to be as merry as the birds of the morning, and yet they are always worrying and stewing about nothing at all. Now, the best way to kill one grief is to introduce another. John Foster wrote of the expulsive power of a new affection, and I want you to experience it. Get love for the souls of men— then you will not be whining about a dead dog, or a sick cat, or about the crotchets of a family, and the little disturbances that John and Mary may make by their idle talk. You will be delivered from petty worries (I need not further describe them) if you are concerned about the souls of men. When certain persons come to me with their sentimental sorrows, I wish the Lord would fill them with the love of souls, and make their hearts break with anxiety for their conversion: then would their griefs be of a nobler sort. You would no longer weep over a mole hill if you began to move mountains. Get your soul full of a great grief, and your little griefs will be driven out. These thoughts of Paul about his brethren cause us to feel that we too may make our lives sublime, if in our hearts there shall burn the self-same ardent affection towards our fellow men.

If you are moved by this feeling, it will put you much upon prayer. You will bring one and another before God, because you cannot help it. That is the right style of praying— when a man does not pray to order at a set time because it is his rule, but prays because he has an awful weight upon him, and pray he must. You cannot force yourself to this, but when the Spirit of God has brought you to it you will pray day and night for those whom you love. As you go down the road something will suggest your praying for them. The very oaths and blasphemies so common in our streets will make you pray for sinners. A gracious meeting where some are saved will move you to prayer. A thousand things will lead you to pray, and that prayer will lead you to effort— to proper and fitting effort. It is wonderful how a man can talk to souls when he loves them. If any one of you should say, “I do not feel any particular concern about other people’s souls, but still I will look out for somebody and speak to him you will fail in it, brother. You must love before you can plead. You must have such a concern for a man that you feel— even if I could not say anything still I could put my hand on his shoulder and blunder out, “Friend, I am concerned about your salvation.” The evident concern of your spirit will be one of God’s ways of touching the hearts of others. I suppose his Spirit has used deep emotion more than almost any other instrument in arousing careless minds.

Now to-night a good many of our friends are away, for the lawful claims of business detain them at this season. I hope that you who have come hither on such a week-evening are among those who aspire to the highest things in the kingdom of God. Do so, I pray you: they are all before you, and within reach: and among them aspire after great sensitiveness as to others. Let other men’s sins grieve you. Let their eternal destiny be often on your mind. No better spur can be wanted. You will labor for their good in proportion as you feel for them. I do not think that I can ask a better thing for the unconverted than that the converted may be in heaviness over them. We long to see many enquirers coming forward. Very well. Enquiring saints always bring enquiring sinners. “For this will I be enquired of by the house of Israel”— not by the sinners first of all— but “by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” My brethren, go and enquire at the Lord’s hands, and then you will soon prove a blessing to others.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Idols-under-your-backside.mp3How Do I Know When God Is Testing Me?

I suspect that no matter how long you have been out of school, you still remember an assortment of negative thoughts that came into your mind when you heard the word, test. Even now, should you have to take a test as part of a job application, or even renew your driver license, you don’t want to have the experience. Whether we are considering our time in high school, college or since, our goal has always been to find a way to exempt ourselves from the test.

However, there are no exemptions in the Christian life. In fact, we will find in a cursory reading of God’s word that being tested is a crucial part of our walk with the Lord. But even though we know that is true, I believe we often miss noticing the tests when they are taking place. Therefore, I thought it might be helpful for us to do a brief study on what the Bible says about testing.

For the Christian, a test is not a written exam that proves knowledge or lack thereof, but it is a series of exercises or processes that measure a reaction, knowledge, beliefs, and character of the person. The Bible is full of examples for us but before we look at the how and why of the testing of God’s people, I was a little surprised to see how many times the Bible mentions God being tested. Here are a few examples:

“Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Exodus 17:2-3

“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.” Deuteronomy 6:16-17

In each of the examples above, it is God who is put into a position where He must react to the actions of His people and in doing so, shows His character. However, God does not have to prove His character or vindicate Himself of any choices He has made, but that is not the case for His people. Listen to the following:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” Exodus 16:4-5

So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not.” Judges 2:20-22

Note that in those two examples, God makes it clear that His purpose in testing them is to reveal their disobedience and ultimately drive them to repentance and obedience. He says in Jerimiah “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do, because of my people (Jer. 9:4-15)? The big test question is, will they walk in my law or not?

When we look at the New Testament, we find even greater application for the Christian life. It is important for us to note that being tested by God is not always His response to our disobedience. Look at 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. There is no mention of sin here, but God brought something into their church that was a severe test, and it produced changed hearts.

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

Then, in the book of James, God makes clear the end goal of our testing:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

In James 1:12-15, he says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Peter speaks to the magnitude of some testing and confirms that testing and even the greatest tests, are not abnormal for the Christian when he writes in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

These are all wonderful passages that help us understand the purpose of testing in the life of all Christians. No exemptions. Even the Lord Jesus was tested in the wilderness for our sake, and He passed the test with perfection. But with all of these examples, I think that we often miss the tests that the Lord is sending into our lives. Why? Because we are looking for the big one. We have read the story of Job, and we have read through the heroes of faith in Hebrews Chapter 11. There was Abraham whose faith was tested when he was told he must sacrifice his son. There is Rehab, the prostitute, who had to decide whether or not she would risk her life to save God’s people. And there we read of Moses who had wealth and prestige in his hand and decided to walk away from it to pursue a life of obedience to God. These are all gigantic tests for the people of the Bible, but where does it leave us, the ordinary Christian? When will each of us be tested?

Well, if you’re asking that question, you have revealed that you are missing at least some of the tests that God is putting before you in your life. What I mean to say is the testing God brings into our lives to reveal our character and point us to the cross of Christ is not the kind of test that Abraham was given, or Job suffered through. It certainly can be a test of that magnitude but what is typical for every Christian is a multitude of small, everyday tests. God’s plan to conform us to the image of Christ does not happen in one traumatic test. This is why it is called a “walk” with the Lord. It is not a jump or a leap or sprint, but a slow and steady walk with the Lord through a life that constantly confronts us with decisions to think and behave in accordance with the Bible or think and behave like the world.

There were thousands of tests that could be used as examples, but I will just mention a few here. Please note that many of these tests take place after the Lord has blessed you.

• God has provided a wonderful home for you and instead of thankfulness to Him, your home becomes a source of sinful pride.
• God blesses you with a job promotion and instead of giving thanks to Him, you spend most of your time thinking about how smart you are.
• God has blessed you with a wonderful mind and the ability to absorb large amounts of information but instead of thankfulness and giving all glory to Him, you become prideful and showy about what you know to others.
• God blesses you with wealth through your investments but instead of telling the story of his graciousness to you, you boast of your smart decisions.
• God blesses you with wealth through increases in salary or investments but instead of seeking to bless others through charity or give to godly of causes, you cling to every dollar.
• God blesses you with wealth but instead of becoming content and stewarding what He has entrusted to you, you increase your risk taking because you can’t control your desire for more.
• God blesses you by sending people to you who share information in confidence but instead of keeping that to yourself, you find ways to share with others because you enjoy the gossip.
• God blesses you by creating a situation in your retirement that you have a great deal of free time but instead of using that time to further his Kingdom, you spend it on worthless things.

Those are just some examples, but you can count just about every decision that you make after getting out of the bed in the morning a test. Some people say that they don’t think they have changed much since they professed Christ. Some people make little effort to grow in their walk with the Lord, leaving it all up to Him. Sadly, they have been missing the tests and worse, failing them.

There is a great deal to work out daily in our Christian lives and that is done through the testing. Paul writes in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT IS A CHARLES SPURGEON SERMON Read By Michael Lee- Wake Up! Wake Up! Based on Romans 13:11. CLICK HERE: https://youtu.be/u9Vup4HEA3g

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Idols-under-your-backside.mp3Are You Hiding Idols Under Your Backside?

I love the Old Testament. In it we see how God thinks about His relationship with His people and although we are not in the same place and time as the Jews, we are worshiping the same God with the same glorious attributes today.

In the first 5 books of the Bible, we learn much about Him as Creator, Redeemer, Law Giver, and Husband to His people. Christians can easily find themselves in the failings of the Israelites and the consequences they bore for their disobedience, and it is important for us to note the patterns of disobedience that resulted in God’s discipline.

The book of Deuteronomy gives us a heads up on the expectations of God. Even if an unsaved person were to read the first half of the book and be quizzed on God’s constant repetition illustrating his greatest concern, he would not come up with any other answer but God’s great warnings against all forms of idolatry. And what exactly is idolatry? We tend to think of the worship of idols as worshipping an image of a false god. Certainly, the other nations surrounding the Israelites we’re doing just that, but that is not the broad definition of idolatry that the Lord wants us to have in mind.

No, idolatry is doing anything that non-believers do and think that is contrary to the commandments and precepts that God has revealed to His people. Of course, it could include worshipping statues of false gods, but the worshipping of statues is just another thing that is contrary to God’s commandments. As He prepares his people to go into the promised land, God tells them to not go after other nations. In other words, do not be like them and do not do what they do.

He prefaces his commandments by telling them numerous times that they are holy to Him. In this use of the word, holy, we are not talking about being sinless, but we are talking about being separated. He is declaring them to be His and as such, they are to be dramatically separated and different than the world around them. Furthermore, He tells them that if they obey Him, they will be blessed, but if they disobey Him, they will be cursed and experience His disciplining hand.

When we fast forward to the time of Jesus coming into this world, we hear confirmation about God’s concern regarding idolatry in the lives of Christians and it is exactly the same as it was for the Israelites in the Old Testament. God’s word teaches us that you cannot love money and God at the same time; you cannot be an unloving selfish person and be a Christian at the same time; you cannot love the world and love God at the same time. Those are crystal clear examples of God telling us once again that we cannot behave or think like people who don’t know the Lord and are not holy unto Him.

Note the language that is strikingly similar in both the Old and New Testaments describing God’s relationship with His people in terms of marriage, and the disobedience of His people in terms of adultery. In the Old Testament, God reveals Himself to the Jews as the God of absolute, undivided, loving, devotion and He demands the same of His people. In the New Testament, He is revealed as the God who laid down His life for His people and He calls His people (Christians) to love and be devoted to Him in the same way.

Consequences

And God will not be mocked. In the Old Testament God has made it very clear for us that He must respond when His people live their lives in the same way as non-believers. God tells the Israelites in great detail what the consequences will be for their disobedience and quite frankly, they are horrifying. In the New Testament, Christians are promised that God will bring discipline into our lives for our disobedience with the same intention that God had in mind for the Israelites. That is, to drive us back to Him and away from worldliness.

But as I think about worldliness in my own life, I have seen I often do not even recognize that I am going after other gods. We know the passage from Jeremiah 17:9 that tells us that our hearts are so deceitful, it is impossible for us to even fully know the extent of our sin. I also think of David praying in the Psalm, Lord, search my heart and show me my evil ways.

I believe the story of Rachel (beginning in Genesis 29) can be helpful to our understanding of idolatry. In a way, her father Laban kept her in bondage to his household by deceiving Jacob over many years. Finally, God orchestrates a way of escape. From what we read in Genesis, chapter 30, Rachel believes in Jehovah God, but when Jacob and Rachel leave Laban and Laban catches up with them in chapter 31, we learn that Rachel is sitting on some of Laban’s idols. Should we be surprised? Actually, if we go back to chapter 30, we will see that Rachel was full of envy towards her sister and did not wait for God to give her a child. Instead, she had a child through her servant Bilhah. Furthermore, her language in verse 8 shows us her heart and how she viewed having children in a kind of competition with her sister Leah.

We don’t know how God was working in Rachel’s heart through her sinful attitude, but we do know that God made her wait at least 8 years to bless her with a child from her own body. Is it fair to say that God refused to answer her prayer for a child because of her sin? We don’t know but we do know that God may choose to do so when we are walking in sinful ways. We see this in 1 Peter 3:7, or again in Isaiah 1:15, God says, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.”

You see, when we are praying for God’s favor while we refuse to turn away from worldliness, we are not believing that God is serious about obedience. Or maybe we think we can perform good works for Him in one area of our life that will somehow earn a pass for not turning from worldly things that we refuse to let go. Like Rachel, are we grateful for God’s deliverance while we remain determined to hide idols under our backside?

And how about our children? Are we praying that God will save them from sin and damnation while we continue to model or expose them to the foolish things of the world? Do we not realize that our idols will become their idols? Do we know in our hearts that we are participating in foolish things, yet we harden our hearts to change by telling ourselves these things have little or no effect on our heart or the hearts of our children? Are we effectively declaring worldly things God says are sinful are actually pleasing in His sight?

It is time to change

So, is it time to shake off those areas of idolatry in our lives. Every day we put it off, our hearts are hardened toward a closer walk with God and the blessings that come to those who have jettisoned their idols.

The writer of Hebrews says it this way: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”(Hebrews 12:1-2)

Yes, it will be difficult to change certain behaviors that you have been doing for many years, but it can happen and not as a result of your incredible effort alone, but because God has promised to help you. Whether we are listening to God in the Old Testament or the New Testament, God holds out His hands of blessing and fellowship to every sinner who is ready to repent of his ways.

But there are 2 prerequisites: You must desire to change, and you must believe that God is able to work that change in you.

Ask God to search your heart, show you any evil ways, and beg Him to give you the strength to kill the ways of the world in you. He will.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT IS A CHARLES SPURGEON SERMON. CLICK HERE: https://youtu.be/u9Vup4HEA3g

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/When-fleeing-is-wise.mp3When Fleeing Is The Wisest Thing You Can Do.

I once knew a great Christian man. From a very early age, he walked closely with God and was used by God in many wonderful ways. During his younger years he was challenged by a number of events that would cause most men to question God’s goodness and plan, and maybe even walk away from his faith. But yet, he was steadfast in his trust of God and the deliverance that he believed God would ultimately bring.

As the years moved toward maturity, his reputation for the love of God became well known to many people. And God was with him through all the trials and tribulations and God exalted this man into higher and higher positions of power. He literally could command others to obtain for him whatever he wanted and was clearly living a life that was amazing in every way.

However, one day he was overtaken by something he never saw coming. Things had gotten so good for him that he no longer had to work as hard as he did in the past. He delegated even the most important things to others and his daily routine became quite bland. He often spent great parts of the day on his deck, scanning the homes in his luxurious neighborhood. And as he gazed at the homes nearby, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. Rather than look away, he strained to see more of her. The more he looked, the more his desire grew and eventually, he used his power to bring that woman into his home and they had sexual relations.

He knew that she was already married, but that didn’t stop him. In fact, his lusts were now completely out of control and instead of repenting, he devised a way to cover the fact that she was now pregnant. Not having success with the cover up, he created a diabolical plan to have her husband killed. Sadly, the plan worked, and my friend almost got away with it, but I found out and confronted him. It was on that fated day that his life would never be the same. He brought shame on his God, his reputation was destroyed, and his position and power began a downward slide that he never recovered from.

As you may have guessed, that was a semi fictional account from Nathan the prophet concerning King David, a man after God’s own heart. My point in writing this is to prove that even the greatest Christian is one decision away from falling into a terrible sin or sequence of sins. This kind of temptation and the decisions that must be made are taking place every day in workplaces across America. By the way, I can write this article as a man for men but the fact is 47% of the workforce in America is now made-up of women, and a great many of these women are in management positions and have a level of power in the workplace. Therefore, what follows here applies to men and women.

It is interesting that the first four chapters of the book of Proverbs stresses the need for wisdom and trusting God for all your ways. But then, the 5th chapter addresses adultery, the 6th chapter speaks to a number of issues, but again comes back to warnings against adultery, and in the 7th chapter, guess what? More warnings about adultery. Clearly, God intends us to understand that this is a huge problem for men and women.

Let’s look at Solomon’s wise words to us and make it practical. He writes in chapter 5, verses 3-6, “For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.”

He is saying that you need to watch out for the woman who compliments the way you dress, the way you comb your hair, your physique, your pretty eyes, your work ethic, and so on. When a man hears these kinds of words, he feels very good about himself and even if none of it is true, his pride will not let him see what is happening. The reality is those smooth words are working to drive a sword through his heart. This kind of woman may even be a professing Christian, possibly making it easier for a man to lower his defenses.

However, Solomon says her steps follow the path to Sheol, and she does not know the way of life. In other words, this is likely the activity of a non-believer.

Solomon goes on in 6:25 “Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.”

There is a moment when a man sees with his eyes the beauty of a woman. There is no sin in the initial thought, but when that thought is nurtured, it becomes sinful lust. And the more it is nurtured, the more powerful the lust becomes. King David was not guilty of noticing the beauty of Bathsheba, but he chose to not look away and that’s when his sinful path began.

Solomon writes in 5:8, “Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house.”

David took the opposite path. He chose to bring her close where all of his senses would have been involved in thinking about Bathsheba. When the Bible says that he noticed her bathing and she was beautiful, I’m quite sure that he was not fixated on her beautiful eyelashes. But now immediately in his presence, his eyes would have been able to take in the full measure of her beauty and his nose would have inhaled her scent.

If you have a woman that you find attractive in your workplace, you must keep your distance. This will mitigate the temptation to smell her wonderful perfume and listen to her honey-like words. Spending time in the presence of a person like that can only open up the door to ungodly thoughts. And by the way, I will reiterate, that all of these things that men can experience with women, women can experience with men.

This seemingly innocent interaction in the workplace or elsewhere can grow into a sinful situation. We all need to understand that should we get a “feel good” from the opposite sex, we are at risk and need to act- we need to flee. Solomon writes in 6:27-28, “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?”

Here are a bunch of practical “do nots” to help avoid common opportunities for temptation:

At work- Do not stay late at the office alone. Do not plan business trips with women. Do not hire a woman that you find attractive. What? Am I violating some kind of modern discrimination law or objectifying women by that statement? No, I am just inferring the weakness of the flesh in men!

Do not hire a woman who doesn’t dress modestly. Do not go out to lunch alone with a woman. Beware of the “over perfumed” woman. That may be a plain indication that she is looking for attention.

At home– Do not contact old flames on social media. Do not fool with dating sites. Do not go into chat rooms.

Leisure- Don’t go to the gym without your spouse. Do not go to bars alone or with your friend group. Do not go to the neighborhood pool.

Bonus “Be on guard against the “White Knight” syndrome. What is that? The White Knight syndrome happens when a man attempts to help a damsel in distress. That is, a woman who is going through a difficult situation and needs help. This may cause the relationship to become inappropriately close and give opportunity for sin. If there is a damsel in distress, find a godly woman to help her. The same applies if there is a struggling man. He needs another man to give him support, not a woman.

OK, so those are all of the negatives. Are there positive things that must be done to avoid sexual sin? Yes, and it’s called choosing to think about the things that God has called you to think about.

Proverbs 5:18-23 says, “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”

And the next two passages tell us that the only thing that will keep us from sin is to know and be saturated in God’s word.

Proverbs 6:20-24 “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.”

7:1-5 “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.”

Brothers and sisters, the temptation to sexual sin is constant and we need to be on guard. Do not be the fool who thinks you are impervious to these kinds of temptations. If you are a human being born into this world since Adam and Eve, it can happen to you!

There are probably many people you know who could use these reminders. I encourage you to please pass this week’s post on to them.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT IS A CHARLES SPURGEON SERMON. CLICK HERE: https://youtu.be/u9Vup4HEA3g

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Your20words20will20condemn20you.mp3Your Words Will Condemn You.

One part of the Christian life that many Christians are concerned about is assurance. That is, are they confident that they are truly saved believers. Interestingly, some Christians think about it all the time while other Christians never give it a thought.

The most common “go to” verses in the Bible to help answer the question of assurance are found in 1 John where John gives several marks of the true Christian and draws a contrast between those who walk in the darkness and those who walk in the light.

For example, he says in chapter 2, verses 3-6, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

And in chapter 2:9, “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness”.

Also, in chapter 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”.

However, I found another means of self-examination that I believe would be very helpful and it is from the mouth of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 12:33-37-

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”**

Simply put, our words reveal our heart and the condition of the heart reveals whether or not we have a relationship with the Lord.

The apostle James, speaking of how we speak in James 3:6, “ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness”. And in verse 10, he writes, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water”.

This passage is also telling us about the heart and effectively gives us a picture that the person who says they are a Christian cannot speak like a person who is not walking in the light any more than a salt pond can produce fresh water. We are not talking about any actions here; it is our words that reveal our heart and whether or not we are walking with the Lord. So, let’s compare some common words or responses people use in their everyday lives to various situations and see if they are words representing a good treasure in the heart or an evil treasure.

WORDS THAT TELL HOW YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.

The non-Christian: “I am becoming a better person because what I have learned about myself”.

Christian: “I am learning to trust Christ more and am growing because of His work in me”.

The non-Christian: “I’m starting to believe more in myself”.

Christian: “I know I can’t trust my own thoughts, but I am putting more trust in the Lord to guide me”.

The non-Christian: “I need to think more about my happiness and not think about what others think about me”.

Christian: “My happiness is found in obeying Christ and looking to serve others”.

The non-Christian: “I do that (bad thing) because of a trauma I experienced in the past”.

The Christian: “I do that (bad) thing because I am weak and gave in to a self-centered attitude”.

WORDS ABOUT GOALS AND MONEY.

The non-Christian: “I’m going to open a business, create wealth, and retire by the time I am 40”.

The Christian: “I have goals, but nothing will happen unless the Lord wills it to happen”.

The non-Christian: “What do you think is the minimum I have to give”?

The Christian: “How much can we give?”

The non-Christian: “Here is how I am investing my money”.

The Christian: “Everything I have belongs to God and I am just a steward. Lord help me to be wise with your money”.

WORDS THAT REFLECT YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD.

The non-Christian: “We must save the planet”!

The Christian: “The Lord has promised to sustain the world and provide for our needs. As stewards of everything that is His, we will try to be wise caretakers”.

The non-Christian: “People are horrible! This world is so frustrating”.

The Christian: “We live in a fallen world, so I expect people to behave sinfully. It’s not what I want but the Lord is at work through it”.

The non-Christian: “My luck is down”. “Bad things come in threes”. “Knock on wood”. “I have a bad feeling about this”.

The Christian: “God has sent something into my life to challenge and grow me. I may not understand why, but I trust Him”.

The non-Christian: Responding gleefully to good fortune such as a promotion at work, an award, or an inheritance, he gives no glory to God but says, “Well, I worked really hard for it.”

The Christian: “Thanks be to God. He has chosen to be gracious to me”.

The non-Christian: Seeing the beauty and wonder of the stars or a fabulous sunset, he says, “amazing, isn’t it”?

The Christian: “The heavens declare the glory of God”!

WORDS THAT REFLECT HOW WE DEAL WITH PEOPLE

The non-Christian: Enjoys participating in gossip, grumbling, and backbiting.

The Christian: Often tempted to gossip and grumble but manages to stay quiet because he is convicted by the Spirit that it is sinful to do those things.

The non-Christian: “ I know if that person is not showing up at work, it must be because they have a drinking problem or is just lazy and unreliable.”

The Christian: “That person certainly has some kind of a problem, but I want to be careful to not draw conclusions that I really know nothing about.”

The non-Christian: “Look, sometimes you just have to lie to get ahead. Everybody does it!”

The Christian: “The Lord is the one who raises people up and puts them down. I’ll wait to see what He does.”

The non-Christian: “If he gets elected, we are doomed!”

The Christian: “We are called on to submit to our leaders and trust God.”

OK, so I think that’s probably more examples than we needed, but the point is all of these words or responses can be indications of how closely a person is walking with God. The person who is walking close with God has God at the front of their mind, filters everything in life through that grid, and manifests the closeness of his walk through his words. The person who is not walking closely with God (or not walking at all) has God in the back of their mind and references Him as a resource when needed. Essentially, God is absent from his words because God is absent from his thinking.

A couple of more things to note. First, prayer consists of words to God and is a critical sign of a person walking in the light or in the darkness. It could probably be said that a person who never prays, cannot know God.

Secondly, my list of examples comparing the Christian and non-Christian’s words, are not absolutely conclusive, but are only indicators. Just as we must do with the tests given to us in 1 John, they need to be applied and observed as patterns in a person’s life because no Christian meets the perfect standard that the Lord requires. Put another way, all Christians falter as they continue to obey Christ and walk in the light.

And finally, you may say, nobody talks like the sample Christian responses that you have listed above. And to that I say, why not? We should. We should be including God’s name in our speech whenever appropriate and if you are not doing this, you should begin the retraining of your mind with God’s help. And what about our children? They will most certainly learn from their parents and to the degree God is absent from the parent’s speech, He will be absent from the speech of the children. But let’s be clear, we are not talking about learning to speak like a Christian for the sake of sounding like a Christian. No, we are really talking about what Paul writes in Romans 12 when he says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Conforming our minds to God’s words will lead to speech that is markedly different from the world.

Examine yourself. Do your words justify you or condemn you? Are there any areas of your thoughts and speech where you are not giving God the glory or failing to weave His word into every part of you? Are you striving in this way to love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? Think deeply about it.

I hope this was helpful and I am grateful for you listening in. You can write to me at Mike@cherishephesians64.com

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/I-hate-being-told-im-bad.mp3“I Hate Being Told I’m A Bad Person.” Another Objection To The Bible And Christianity.

This brief article is for the person who is searching online for answers or the person who received this article because someone who cares about you sent it to you. Thanks for taking the time to think about this.

There have probably been countless times through the centuries where a person who represented Christianity began to tell a person about Jesus and the Cross with the lead line something like, “you are a bad person and are going to Hell.”

Maybe they didn’t say it quite that way, but that was the gist of it. It was as if they wanted to scare you or shock you into wanting to hear more. However, it isn’t just the one on one conversations that have gone that way. Commonly called hellfire and brimstone preaching, many preachers/teachers of the Bible have stood in front of large gatherings and shouted a message declaring the imminent danger of hell for the person who has disobeyed God and rejected His plan to be reconciled to Him.

I must admit that even as a Christian, I am bothered when someone (not even God) thinks that way about me! Why is being told, “you’re a bad person,” so offensive? Think with me through a few responses I have heard-

• Some people hate any messages that are perceived to be negative and just want to hear and think about things that are positive.
• Some people completely reject a message that says God will punish a person by sending me to a terrible place for not obeying Him and don’t believe a loving God would do such a thing.
• Some people believe that all people are basically good. However, they do bad things at times because they have been victims of being treated poorly by others in the past or grew up in a difficult environment.
• Some people immediately dismiss the idea of them being a bad person because they measure their own behavior against other people in the world who are “really bad people.” In fact, most people think they are good.

The fact of the matter is, no one likes to be told they are a bad person, especially when it hasn’t been explained what we even mean when we use the term “bad” to define a person, and if we don’t explain this more fully, it is likely to be a message that is hated by everyone, even people who are Christians! Let me illustrate the problem-

A number of years ago, I would meet with a group of men once a week in the early hours to talk about things the Bible taught. The Bible has a lot to say about how we think and behave as people and part of that is significant teaching and explanation about our nature and its tendency to be disobedient to people and to God. Of course, the Bible uses the term sin for disobedience, and the more we talked about sin, the more discouraged one of the men in my group became.

As we talked, he began to think deeply about his own actions in life and the thoughts that would often come into his mind. He quickly realized that his ungodly actions and thoughts far outweighed thought and actions that were aligned with God, and was greatly convicted about his sin. This conviction made him feel very bad inside, and he became quite discouraged. He decided he needed a break from our meetings, and when I realized what was happening to him, I went to him and stressed that he was getting beaten down by a focus on only one part of the biblical message.

This is what happens when we don’t hear the entire story. The first part of the story is yes, you may be compared to other people and think you are good but compared to God, you do and think many bad things (sin) and in that way, you are a bad person. You see, God demands that we obey Him perfectly. He is the standard, not what I may think or how I compare to other people. In His mind, there are no people who are good, as all people fall short of the mark of perfection that He demands. In that way, every one of us is “bad”.

With that in mind, can we take a moment for an honest assessment of our own lives? Can we put everything else aside and take a look at our behavior and even more importantly, our thoughts? Are we always loving and kind, looking to serve others, never becoming angry, always forgiving, always submitting to authorities and parents? Have you ever lied or stolen something? And who or what is the most important thing in the world to you? Is it not true that the way you think about everything you do in your life is in the context of how you will benefit from it? Don’t you sometimes manipulate or mislead people to get what you want? How often do you have thoughts of lust or become jealous or covet what other people have that you don’t? Are you thankful for things in your life or are you a complainer?

This short list of questions above should be enough to give you a perspective of how “good” you are in God’s eyes. Sadly, this is not something we grow into, but it is the way it is with all people right from the beginning of our lives. Just think of the baby who was told to not put their fingers in the light socket. They check and see if the parent is watching them and as soon as they think they can get away with it, they immediately attempt to do exactly what they were told not to. This doesn’t change into adulthood and if we will admit it, we don’t really want to obey anything anyone tells us to do. In fact, sometimes we not only don’t want to submit to authority, but we actually think about how we can rebel against it. This is the plight of every human being and this type of disobedient or rebellious attitude is not only toward other people, but is also how we think about submitting to God.

Is this what some Christians are talking about when they tell people that they are bad? Yes, this is where they are getting that idea from, but they are expressing it in a very incomplete way. Going back my friend in the Bible study, he needed to hear the complete message because there is an incredibly positive and loving counter to the, “you’re a bad person declaration,” and here it is: God has made a way for Him to look at you and not see you as a bad (sinful)person, but instead see you as a person with perfect thoughts and perfect behavior.

How is that possible? It is possible because God understands how impossible it is for us to stop behaving the way we behave and ever get to a point where we would be good enough to be reconciled to Him and become part of his family. He knows that we can’t stop doing the things we do, nor can we escape from Him rightfully punishing us for all of our disobedience. Therefore, He took it upon Himself to send his son (Jesus Christ) to come to earth as a man and live the perfect life on our behalf. And once Jesus had completed his time of living a perfect life, He voluntarily offered himself to be the one who would receive all of the punishment for our disobedience. This is the rest of the story. The first part of the story is completely negative and should make us feel bad about ourselves. But the second part of the story is incredibly positive and should fill us with joy.

You see, we really can’t deny that we have disobeyed God’s rules for us and in that way, we are “bad” people. For that, we deserve His wrath. But, we also can’t deny that God has lovingly and graciously designed a way of escape and how foolish would it be for us to ignore Him.

To learn more, I have three suggestions. Maybe you don’t think God exists, so I would like to ask you to listen to another message called, “Does God exist?” Click here

If you are a person who is beginning to think more deeply about this, I am suggesting a message called “Ultimate Questions.” Click here

And if you would like to go straight to the Bible to understand what exactly Jesus Christ did for you, I direct you to the recordings on the Book of John. Click here

All of the links are in the description section in YouTube..

I hope this was helpful and I am grateful for you listening in. You can write to me at Mike@cherishephesians64.com

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/I-dont-want-to-be-like-that.mp3“I Met A Christian And Don’t Want To Be Like That!” Another Objection To The Bible And Christianity.

This brief article is for the person who is searching online for answers or the person who received this article because someone who cares about you sent it to you. Thanks for taking the time to think about this.

I wish I could say that I have only heard this objection once or twice in the past 30 years but unfortunately, many people have run into a person who claimed to be Christian and was the kind of person you would never want to be like. In fact, at one time I probably was one of those kinds of Christian so let me begin by describing my personal experience as a Christian who most likely offended many. I’m going to describe five categories (there are probably more) of Christians to help you understand what is really going on behind the term Christian.

The Zealous Christian. This was me immediately after becoming a Christian. I was so excited about this change in my life and how I became part of God’s family that I immediately sat down and wrote a 15 page letter to every person that I knew- friends, family, and acquaintances. While I thought it was a most important letter, containing the most life-changing information anyone could possibly hear, it was written in such a way that I completely ignored the possibility that it may be received as anything but loving in its content.

However, because I was so filled with passion and zeal, my message was too aggressive and was received as not from a person whose main intention was to help them, but rather a letter from a person who had become to them obnoxious and extreme. Needless to say, I never did get one positive response from my letter. As time went on, I learned to be more considerate regarding the power of words, my relationships, and the timing of speaking on things of great importance.

The Immature Christian. This category follows the one that I described about myself above and I certainly would have qualified for this category as well. The immature Christian is a person who has not yet applied the teachings found in God’s word to his life. He or she may truly believe in the core beliefs of the Bible and be a real Christian, but there has not been much change in their life. They are like newborn babies that have come into the world but never advanced in their behavior beyond the toddler stage. Therefore, you may look at their claims to be Christian and expect actions and speech that are different than anyone else, but in many ways, they still behave and sound like those who don’t claim to be Christians. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise for you or anyone else to conclude that you have met a Christian and have no desire to be like that.

The Ignorant Christian. The ignorant Christian is a Christian who is sincere about what he believes, but much of what he believes is not true. He is the victim of poor teaching. He may have learned his beliefs through his family upbringing or through one or more churches he has attended through the years, but much of what he espouses to be true is incorrect. This creates a huge problem for Christians and is a major turn off for those who want to learn more about Christianity. Part of the problem is that most people who are not Christians don’t realize that there are many different systems of belief within Christianity. Therefore, they interact with the ignorant Christian and without understanding that this particular Christian is not a true representative of what the Bible teaches, they assume all Christians are the same and reject any interest in Christianity.

The Not A Christian “Christian.” Please note the quotes that I’ve placed around the word Christian in this category. This is because many people who say they are Christian are simply not. This category of “Christian” is very difficult for the non-Christian to spot. Often, a member of this category is a person who is very intent on keeping rules. Keeping rules or laws makes them feel very good about themselves so this is where their emphasis in life remains. This category of “Christian” is also quick to judge others for their inability to follow rules and has very little room in their attitude for grace and forgiveness. Finally, this category of “Christian” is in constant need of more knowledge and as he accumulates more and more, he becomes condescending to all those whom he deems to know little and therefore, are lesser people.

The Mature Christian. This is the last category of Christian I’m going to describe and if you had run into this category of Christian, you would not say that you do not want to be like this person. The mature Christian is a person who is kind, patient, content, cares about other people, and is generally happy. Ideally, this is what all Christians should look like, but they do not. Why? Read on.

I hope I have not confused you with all of these categories but rather have helped you see that people who call themselves Christian are all in different places in their Christian life and some are not even true Christians. There is a pattern here that you may be picking up on and that is the pattern of brokenness. You might think that if someone was a Christian, he or she would immediately become everything that they say they believe in, but that is not what is happening.

No, you are coming in contact with people who are in process. And this is the Christian message: these people have come to understand that because of their past ignorance and disobedience of God, they have no relationship with God and are in fact, in the position of incurring His judgment. They have learned of God’s gracious plan for forgiveness, purchased for them by God’s son, Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus paid the price for their sinful behavior and now are part of God’s family. They have become Christians.

However, their journey with God has only begun and although they have new motives and an ability to obey God and reflect his love and grace to the rest of the world, the change in their hearts and minds comes over a period of time. It is during the rest of their life that they will learn to regulate their zealousness, understand more about what the Bible truly says, and discard foolish and incorrect beliefs. They will one day, become mature Christians.

Is God surprised by any of this? Of course not. He explains all of this in the Bible. He is like a loving father who is patiently teaching his children how to become adults.

So, what about you? What are you going to do about your relationship with God? Will you use the behavior of immature Christians as a legitimate reason to not deal with your own soul? Think about it- even if you have met any number of Christians who disappointed you in their behavior or words, will you allow that to keep you from having peace with God?

Recently, I did a short series of videos explaining one of the books of the Bible. Each segment is five to 10 minutes long, so it doesn’t require a huge time commitment. I have placed the link here and I hope you will check it out. Thanks for thinking through this.

Please feel free to write to me if you have questions or need further help. My address is Mike@CherishEphesians64.com

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

View Details

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Will-never-be-good-enough.m4aDon’t Believe Christians And The Bible? Here Are Answers. Objection #3: I’ll Never Be Good Enough.

This brief article is for the person who is searching online for answers or the person who received this article because someone who cares about you sent it to you. Thanks for taking the time to think about this…

In this article, I am going to attempt to destroy two of the most misunderstood aspects of being a Christian. For many people, they have some idea about the behavior Christians should have and that idea is that Christians are “good” people who don’t do the same things that non-Christians do. What sort of things don’t they do? Well, they don’t smoke, drink, swear, or ever have bad thoughts, and they are never tempted to do things that God forbids in the Bible such as steal from your employer, lie on taxes, have sex out of marriage, cheat on your spouse, look at porn, have fits of anger, and so on.

In addition to this view of the Christian life, it is commonly believed to become a Christian, a person must first rearrange their lives in such a way that he or she would fit the Christian mold and be acceptable to God. In other words, a person would need to “clean up” their lives before they could even have a chance of becoming part of the Christian group.

Both of these views are both wrong and deadly to people who are thinking deeply about their purpose and value in this life and are contrary to the Christian message.

You see, if we compare ourselves to each other, we may be able to say that one person’s behavior is better than another; we may conclude that a person is “good” because they are kinder or more loving than another person. But comparing people to people is not the measure that God uses. No, God compares people to Himself and in that case, there is no person who can be in the presence of a perfectly holy, loving, kind God. There are people who do “good” things, but no one does good at all times. Everyone fails that test! Listen to what God is telling us in His Bible about the possibility of you or me being good enough to be a Christian and have a relationship with Him:

• “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; No one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12).

Even Jesus, the Son of God, when asked by a man what he must do to have eternal life (with God), said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good” (Matt 19:16-17). Jesus’ point was that the only one who was good was God.

And here is where we may stumble into thinking wrongly again. Many people agree if they make an honest assessment of their thoughts and the things that they do and compare that with God, they have no chance of being accepted by God. So, what do they do? They set about making a huge effort to “be better” so they have a chance of being accepted by God. However, after a very short while they realize that they have failed to stop doing the things that they know they shouldn’t be doing and the plan to “be better” results in nothing more than frustration. You see, the root of the problem is not our efforts to do better. The problem is the core of who we are – it is the nature that we were born with, and that nature functions in such a way that we are prone to disobey God rather than obey Him. No matter how hard we try, we will find ourselves stuck in a continual cycle of failure. God tells us in the bible that we are in a kind of slavery to our sinful nature:

• “You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (Romans 6:16).

At this point, I hope you come to understand that the message of the Bible is not, “ become a better person so you can become a Christian.” But you may have also realized that if God says no person is good and people are stuck with a nature that doesn’t allow them to become, “good enough for God,” then there is NO way that a person can become a Christian. In fact, the Bible says that people who have no relationship with God and continue to disobey God, they will enter into eternal punishment after death. This is the terrible predicament that every person is in unless somehow, some way, we can get forgiveness from God for all of the bad stuff we have done.

In effect, we were dead to God and without any hope. However, God chose to do something we could not. In His Bible, He tell us that even though we continued in disobedience (sin), God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sinfulness we deserved and by doing so, obtained forgiveness from God (reconciliation), so we can become part of His family (Christians). Here are two passages from God that explains this loving, gracious act:

• But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:8-11).

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:1-9).

Please note that this has nothing to do with our goodness, but it is the goodness and of kindness of God that makes a person a Christian. And what are you to do? Believe it. Believe that what God says is true- there are none good, that we all deserve eternal punishment for disobeying Him in many ways every day, that we can’t be good enough to be accepted by Him, and that trusting in what Jesus has done is the only way I can be accepted by God and become a Christian.

But what about the idea that Christians do good things? Is that completely wrong? No, it is not. When a person places their trust (they believe) in what Jesus has done for them, God changes their nature and gradually over time, they obey God more and disobey Him less. They do it because they want to, not because they are trying to be part of an exclusive club or because they are afraid of getting kicked out of the family. But even so, they don’t do it perfectly and learn through their failures that they need God’s help every day.

Now that you know you don’t have to meet a “goodness” requirement to become a Christian, would you like to learn more? I have two links for you. The first link is to a series I did on the life of Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQic3uEomQsD4YXkeAwPpeVj

And the second link is to a series that I recorded called “Ultimate Questions.” https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Please feel free to write to me if you have questions or need further help. My address is Mike@CherishEphesians64.com

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Does-God-Exist.m4aDoes God Exist?

This is part of a series that I am doing called, “Don’t Believe Christians And the Bible?” Please pass along to a friend or loved one who may be helped by thinking through this objection to Christianity.

That question- does God exist – and the possibility that he does, is more than an exercise in curiosity; it is downright scary. Why do I say that? Because if God exists, there is a being that is completely foreign to us and a being that has powers infinitely greater than us. And here is the only sane thought that follows: what does he want from me?

So, what have most people thought about this question in the past? Well, many people believe that God exists, but they don’t believe the same things about God. As you probably know, some people have believed that there are many gods battling out the affairs of men. Some believe that there are many gods, each having power over a particular thing in the universe, such as the god of fire, or the god of the sun, etc.. Another popular belief is that there is a god but he doesn’t get involved in the affairs of men; he just watches.

But here is the interesting thing- while there is vast disagreement about who or what they think God is, most everyone believes there is something. It’s as if all of us have been hardwired to have some idea about the existence of God. So that begs another question: although most everyone believes in some kind of god or higher power, why do most people decide to avoid pursuing any additional knowledge on the subject? It is almost like they willingly decide to avoid thinking about it. I know that was the case for me; I just didn’t want to think about it because the possible implications were life changing.

So, how can we know the answer to this incredibly important question? I believe we can answer the question without reading books or speaking to people from different religions and belief systems. You see, I’m not trying to answer the question about which belief system is is true. No, I’m just trying to answer the question about the existence of God. And I believe we just need to look with our eyes and apply some good old fashioned common sense to get the answer.

When was the last time you went to the beach? Some people plan their entire year around their annual vacation at a favorite body of water and they do it because when they are there, they never tire of looking out at the water and marveling at its beauty. Others love the sound of the waves that roll in, while still others have their soul lifted up by the vastness of it all. I doubt there has ever been a person who, after gazing at the scene before them, did not lift up their eyes and give praise to the sky above (even if they don’t believe in god).

Or how about the mountains? Are you a camper or a hiker, a skier, or a hunter? Have you not stopped again and again at every vantage point where you could survey the mountains and hills around you and thought to yourself, “how amazing this is!” What this visual gem does to your senses is wonderful, yet inexplicable.

And then there are the stars. I have laughed at the scientific declarations over the last few decades of my life. I remember when scientists said they declared that the galaxy the earth lives in is vast and the number of stars in the galaxy was about 10 billion stars. Then, a few years later they declared that there were about 15 billion stars, and a few years after that they estimated 25 billion stars. Are you starting to see the trend of man’s inability to understand the size of our galaxy? Well, let’s fast forward to today’s scientific knowledge. According to NASA, there are 100-400 billion stars in our galaxy.

But wait, how many stars are there in all of the galaxies? According to the European Space Agency, “for the Universe, the galaxies are our small representative volumes, and there are something like 1011 to 1012 stars in our Galaxy, and there are perhaps something like 1011 or 1012 galaxies. With this simple calculation you get something like 1022 to 1024 stars in the Universe. This is only a rough number, as obviously not all galaxies are the same, just like on a beach the depth of sand will not be the same in different places.” OK, I’m not even going to try to tell you what that number is because I am just staggered trying to even imagine the size of it all.

After we allow pondering the size and beauty that we can see in the universe, I have two questions about the existence of the oceans and mountains and the universe. First, how did they get there and second, how is all of this holding together? In other words, why does the sun keep warming our planet so life can exist? Why doesn’t it burn out or explode? What makes those waves on the sea continue to move through the oceans and lap against the seashores everywhere on the planet? Why isn’t there another planet that has life? There isn’t any other planet that has what we have. The fact is that if our planet were located anywhere else in our galaxy, we would not survive. Any further away from the sun, we would freeze and any closer to the sun, we would burn up. And how does our planet keep spinning and for that matter, why doesn’t it slow down or speed up?

All of these things you can see unassisted with your eyes but there is another universe of incredible things that will stagger you with wonder and that is what you can see with a microscope. I’m not going to go full nerd on you but the world is made up of microscopic particles that are bonded together with other particles circling around them or emitting from them. How did this happen and why does it continue to hold together?

Well, all of those things that we see and are amazed by are nothing compared to this one last thing- us! Yes, construction and design of human beings are the greatest examples of complexity, beauty, and mystery. Nothing in the universe can compare to the body and mind of a human being. Each human being has a unique personality, has the capacity to make intelligent choices, experience a multitude of emotions such as love, and have a desire to worship.

Can we answer the question of the existence of God? Yes. With all that we can easily see and experience everyday, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that there must be a God! If we consider the mind that it would take to design what we see, and the power and wisdom that would be required to hold it all together, we cannot conclude otherwise.

But wait, what about all of those who don’t believe in God and have constructed arguments for an alternative reason for the creation and maintenance of the universe as well as the complexity of a human being?

It is true- there are many theories that argue for other ways that the universe was created and how human beings came to be what they are today. Of course, the most well known theory for the creation of the universe comes from, “The Big Bang Theory.” The Big Bang Theory believes that the universe’s creation began with one gigantic explosion and life began afterwards with some random chemical interactions. To answer the question as to whether this could be true or not does not require any education. All that is required is an answer to this question: is it possible for anything, such as a huge explosion of materials or big bang, come out of nothing, which was what existed before creation? And the answer is no. It is impossible for material to explode if there was no material to explode from. Simply put, from nothing, nothing comes.

The other argument regarding the creation of the universe has to do with how creation began with The Big Bang Theory and eventually produced human beings, is Darwin’s theory of evolution. That is, over billions of years, the primordial sludge that formed from chemical reactions evolved to become all sorts of plants and animals and eventually, human beings.

Here again, you would think that you need many years of higher education to intelligently enter into a conversation about evolution, but you don’t. You just need to consider the evidence that you can plainly see. The fact is that even though many thoughtful scientists have produced many wonderful renderings and videos filled with computer enhanced graphics, there is no evidence that our ancestors were monkeys and there is no missing link that shows there were ever human beings that were less human than we are today. None.

Let’s wrap this up with one more common objection to the existence of God and that is, “I can’t see him.” There are many things in our lives that we can’t see but we know they exist because we see what they do. This reminds me of my fascination with trains as a young boy. My friends and I loved to hang out on the railroad tracks at the end of our street. The train ran through two times each day and we would place all sorts of things on the tracks to see what the train might to do to them. We knew if we got caught, we would be in big trouble so we would put our ears down to the rail to listen for the train in the distance. We couldn’t see it, but we could pick up the vibrations in the rail.

When the vibrations grew loud enough, we made sure that we had everything on the rails, such as coins, tree branches, soda cans, and frogs (yes, I said frogs), and hightailed it into the woods. As the train arrived, we could feel the power of the train through the ground and hear the sounds of its massive engines and its blaring horn, but we couldn’t see it. Shortly after it passed, we ran to the tracks to see what the giant steel wheels had done to our coins and such.

We never saw the train itself, but we did see day after day, it’s handiwork. Based on what we could see with our eyes (the coins), hear with our ears (the horn) and touch with our hands (the vibrations through the rails), there was no doubt the train existed. So it is with God. We have so much evidence that He exists that it seems even inanimate objects like the seas, mountains, and sky are shouting to our hearts, “God exists, and He is amazing in every way!” And when we experience these wonders of creation, there is that something that lifts our spirits and moves to praise. That, dear friend, is the foreshadow of what we were created to do- worship God.

I hope you would like to learn more about the one true God and His creation. If so, I suggest you begin the journey by reading the very first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. Having a Christian friend who can help guide you through the book may be very helpful. If you are wondering if the Bible is true, please listen to the audio in this playlist called, “Is the Bible True?”

Listen to this and other recordings addressing objections to Christianity on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TSyy8BhXMRY

Think deeply about life, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Is-the-Bible-True.m4aIs The Bible True?

I have two introductions for you-

First, Introduction #1: Dear friends,

Maybe you know someone in your life- a friend, a family member, who has rejected the Bible and Christianity and maybe you struggle to share information with them about this topic. Over the next several weeks I am planning to address some of the common objections to the Bible and Christianity. Eventually, I’ll pull these series of articles into a playlist that I hope will be helpful. Please pass along to a friend or loved one. Thanks.

Second, Introduction #2: Dear loved person,

If you are reading this, it may be because a person who loves you passed it along. I know I can speak for them when I say that the information that they want me to share is literally life changing. However, you may have heard something about the Bible or what Christians believe and you have decided it’s not for you. I can think of a lot of reasons for your decision because I am sure I had some of the same ones for my disbelief. Did you go to a church one time in the past and you got nothing out of it? Been there. Did you experience people who said they were Christians, yet they were some of the worst people you have ever met? Been there, too.

Is It True Or False?

I could go on to discuss those experiences but the one objection to the Bible that I invite you to think about today is about whether or not the Bible itself is actually true. Why? Because if it is not true, every conversation about the Bible or Christianity is dead and there’s nothing to talk about. But if it is true, it will save your life from this confusing and depressing world now and give you meaning and joy today and forever.

There is much to say on the question, but I’m going to attempt to boil down the thousands of pages written in the past to a handful of powerful ideas. But before I do, I have to ask you one question and then ask you to do one thing. First, do you really want to know? I mean, are you open to learning something that might change your mind, or have you already decided that this is baloney? I know for myself that if I have been locked into a conclusion or certain perspective about something, it’s really hard to be open to change. So that’s the reason for me asking you to do something and that something is, “pray.”

So you might say, “pray? I don’t know how to pray and I never do. I wouldn’t even know what to say.” I understand and I don’t even care what you say, but I think all of us instinctively can look upwards and ask for help. Just ask that you receive help to keep an open mind about what you are about to hear.

What Is The Bible?

OK, so let’s talk about the Bible. What is the Bible?

The Bible is a collection of writings penned by 36 different men from different walks or life, different cultures, and different professions over 1500 years. And here is one of the amazing facts that should land on us hard: many of the authors never knew each other yet what they wrote is part of one story. And even more startling is the fact that while each of their writings support and complement the others, there are no contradictions. We must ask how that could be possible and the Bible gives us the answer: through those 15 centuries, God put into the mind of these men the exact words that God wanted them to write down!

Incredible Accuracy

But where did they write them down? Some wrote on stone or pottery pieces, clay tablets, papyri, and animal skins. The writings were copied and passed on to the next generation for safekeeping.

But how do we know if some of the original writings or copies were made up or had mistakes in them? Scholars have compared many manuscripts and have found that minor mistakes were made in copying and transcribing through the years, but none of the differences changed the meaning of what was written. Put another way, it would be as if a modern day person were to make a copy in English and missed dotting an “i” or crossing a “t”.

The newer writings (called the New Testament) are even easier to prove true and accurate. If you think about how we have always trusted other ancient writings and the proofs that we have readily accepted and compare them to the incredible proofs that we have for the Bible, it is patently clear that the Bible is both accurate and true. For example, the copies of manuscripts that we have for Plato or Caesar are respectively 210 and 251 manuscripts, but the manuscripts that we have for the New Testament writings are over 20,000!

Impossible Coincidence

As I mentioned earlier, the Bible is one story written by many authors over 1500 years. The main subject of the Bible is Jesus Christ and prior to His birth, the Old Testament writers wrote about His coming and what would happen in His lifetime. When someone writes about something that will happen in the future, it is called a prophecy and there are hundreds of prophesies (sometimes referred to as a Messianic prophecy) about Jesus Christ. I want to share with you a mind blowing calculation that was done by mathematician Peter Stoner. The following is available from a number of sources online:

“Professor Peter W. Stoner was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College and Chairman of the science division at Westmont College. In his book, Science Speaks, Professor Stoner outlines the mathematical probability of one person in the first century fulfilling just eight of the most clear and straightforward Messianic prophecies.

Josh and Sean McDowell quote Stoner in their book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict:

We find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017 (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000).

Stoner went on to calculate the probability of one person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 in 10157.

In case you’re questioning whether Professor Stoner’s math was wrong, H. Harold Hartzler, PhD, of the American Scientific Affiliation, Goshen College, writes in the forward of Stoner’s book:

The manuscript for Science Speaks has been carefully reviewed by a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation members and by the Executive Council of the same group and has been found, in general, to be dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented. The mathematical analysis included is based upon principles of probability which are thoroughly sound and Professor Stoner has applied these principles in a proper and convincing way.”

These calculations about what would happen (prophesies) in the life of one man, Jesus Christ, made hundreds of years before Jesus was even born, are calculations made based on the possibility that they would turn out to be true. In fact, Jesus Christ was born, lived and died in the ways that were prophesied about him.

Remember, there were hundreds of prophesies made about Jesus Christ by those ancient writers, but Professor Stoner did his calculations based on only 48. To continue the exercise using a larger number of prophesies coming true would only provide us with probabilities that would just continue to bury deeper the idea that there is any possibility that all of this was some kind or coincidence.

Let’s Wrap It up

At this point, you may have opened up to the idea that the Bible is true, or you are fighting the clear evidence that has been put before you. You may be thinking, “do I need faith to believe the Bible is true?” And I would say to you, no you don’t need some blind, unsubstantiated faith to believe it’s true; you need faith in something else to believe the Bible is not true!

There are other ways to prove that the Bible is true, but I’ve chosen what I believe is the clearest and most powerful way to convince you. You may also be wondering and maybe even fearful that if you say you believe the Bible, you will have to give up things you love or start doing other things that you have never done. However, at this point all you have done is recognize that the evidence is so compelling, only God could have written this book through ordinary men.

Now you have to decide if you want to open the book to see what God has said. In it, you will find all the answers to why the world is the way it is and why people behave the way they do. It is full of wisdom and joy and you will wish that you had done so sooner in your life. My suggestion is that you find a solid Christian friend to read with you through the Book of John or you may want to try a YouTube playlist https://youtu.be/gMxQBR6EAyE that can give you a simple and straightforward explanation of what John wrote in the Bible. Either way, I can promise you that you won’t regret it!

Think deeply about life, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/President-will-not-destroy-your-family.m4aThe President Will Not Destroy Your Family. But Maybe You Can.

With the first trial of former President Trump now behind us, it would be a good time to take a fresh look and how our culture is handling politics. I think it’s important for Christians to realize that the continued decline of Christianity in our country is manifesting itself in the following ways:

• The rise of hate. More and more Americans show their hate for others in both their words and actions they take. There was very little discourse of ideas and there are actually places that would be dangerous for you to express your affiliation or views.
• The rise of pride. It is now common to find an absolute disdain for the political party you disagree with. People are looking down on the political party they disagree with and speaking about those people in extremely disparaging ways.
• The decline of appropriate behavior towards others (decorum). People in places of leadership are shouting at each other and calling each other names. Even those in the highest office in the land speak profanities that make them no better than a filthy mouthed punk.
• The weapon of slander and half-truths/lies has become an acceptable way of doing business. There is no shame.
• It is now commonplace that leaders around the world are often mired in scandals that would have been things of great embarrassment not too many years ago. Today, the leader embroiled in scandal does not shrink away but embraces the scandal for political gain.

What is happening? I believe we are experiencing the judgment of God on a nation that has become more and more anti-God in these last 60 years than ever. No, we are not Israel, and no, I know that there has always been wickedness and debauchery in the cultures of the past. But for a nation that was once closely aligned with Christianity (at least on the outside), I do not believe there has been a nation that has fallen morally so far and fast as the USA in these last 60 years. That fall away from obedience to God does not simply warrant a response from God, but demands one because He will not be mocked.

So how about our two Presidential candidates in 2024? Which one best represents the interests of the God of the Universe? Who can Christians align themselves with? Well, you know the old expression, the lesser of two evils, right? Sorry if I just stepped on your corns, but you do realize that both of these men are just sinful, fallen men, right? You do realize that they both men use God’s name in vain, have themselves as their true object of worship, covet the power that they have, commit slander as a way of gain, and are the masters of lies and half-truths (which are lies). Regarding adultery, both have a history of inappropriate sexual contact with women. And thinking about murder, one supports the killing of babies and the other exudes so much hate toward his competitors that we can apply Jesus’ teaching that hate in the heart is the equivalent of murder.

So, then who will be our choice for our modern day king? Do we just throw our hands up in the air and refuse to even vote? Does it matter? Yes, it does matter, and our vote will dictate which path our country is on at least for the next four years. There are new policies and new laws that will be enacted by the leadership of either man and they will have an effect on American life.

But here is where we so easily go wrong: our passion for a government that would honor God can morph into a passion for a man that would save us, and that passion becomes a sinful, God dishonoring passion that God hates. This is the kind of passion that the world has, and the Christian should never have. Take a quick word search in the New Testament epistles for passion or passions and you will see it mentioned 25 times. In almost all cases, the words come with warnings such as, “to not be like the Gentiles” (1 Thess. 4:5), “to put to death earthly passion” (Colossians 3:5), and “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions” (Titus 2:12).

The truth is that no man, even the President with a politically favorable House and Senate, can save or destroy you and your family. There is only One who we should fear and trust and that is the One who can destroy body and soul (Matt. 10:28).

We have seen this story before, and it has been written down by God for our instruction. Back to Israel we go and after being rescued from bondage under a wicked ruler, they complained in the desert. They didn’t complain that God wasn’t providing for them because He was. They complained because they didn’t have the same food that they had when they were in slavery. They were not content with God’s provision, nor did they esteem Him as they should. As a result, God judged them and killed 600,000 men in the wilderness over 40 years for their lack of faith in Him.

The book of Deuteronomy clearly tells the Jews that they are to love God above all else and keep His commandments. He instructed them to diligently teach the children about Him and keep away from the other nations around them. He warned them against disobedience and plainly told them that the punishment for disobedience would be severe. But instead of obedience, they chose to do exactly what He told them not to and the judgment of God came upon them.

Fast forward 360 years, the people demand that they have a king, just like the other nations. So, God gave them Saul. They placed their trust in a man instead of God and as a result, judgment came again on the people. Even during the reign of King David, we see how a man can be a devious, murdering adulterer and the consequences that follow. This is why it is OK to be passionate about the things that God is passionate about (as revealed in His word) but is dangerous to allow our passions to become invested in a mere man. Remember, even Jesus did not want to be thought of as a savior in the way the world thinks of a savior!

Christians need to think like Christians, and we learn how to do that from the Bible. We need to apply the fact that He is sovereign over everything that happens and if we experience suffering or persecutions in any way, it is because He has determined that it is good for us and moves us towards His ultimate purpose of making us more like Christ. That means you cannot be poor, or persecuted, or overtaxed, or have your freedoms removed, or have your belongings destroyed, or even killed, unless it fulfills God’s purposes for you.

But you can contribute to your destruction if you place your passions and trust in anyone or anything but God. The message from God to us is obey all He has commanded, love Him supremely, give thanks for whatever He has given you, and raise the children He has given you to think the same way. This is a good a time as any to take a real life check on what we are doing, especially with the children.

• Who do your children love in this world? Ask them who they would like to be like. Is that person the one that you would like them to become?
• Which people have you put before their eyes and ears that they will inevitably mimic?
• Who are your children’s friends?
• What are your children watching and listening to- movies, social media, music?
• Do your children receive education in a place that loves God?
• Do you have regular times of teaching and discussion about God in your home?

Trump or Biden will not answer to God about how you did Ephesians 6:4 in your home- you will.

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

View Details

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/My-wife-saved-me.m4aMy Wife Saved My Life.

I have been reading through the book of Genesis and upon arriving at chapter 2, I was forced to ponder versus 18 through 24. Let’s read it together so you will understand what I’m about to say. Beginning in verse 18, the Bible says:

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So, the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.**

If you are reading this you can see that I bolded 2 portions and if you’re listening, I will tell you that the first thing that jumped out to me was the verse, “it is not good that man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.”

Here we have straightforward and plain reason directly from God as he gives us the reason for his creation of a woman-“it is not good that man would be alone.” In God’s absolute knowledge, wisdom, and loving care for his creation, he knew that the man he created was a social being whose life would be incomplete without another person to exchange the God- like image of love, selflessness, care, and more. Furthermore, God created the woman to be a helper to him. This is where we get the modern day term called complementarianism. God created man with certain characteristics and God created woman in such a way that she would complement man in ways that would enhance his being.

This would seem to require that the woman, though different in some ways, would also have to be very much like the man and so God decides to literally take a piece of the man and fashion the woman. In verses 21 and 22, the Bible says, “So, the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.”

Then, in a grand final declaration of God’s purposes in creating the woman for man, verse 24 says, “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Here, we have within just six verses from God’s word, at least two huge definitions of God’s intent for his creation. First, the plain fact that there are only two sexes, male and female, and secondly, marriage is a sacred bond between one man and one woman. Obviously, this is exactly what the devil has been raging about and trying to destroy and malign particularly in these last 60 years or so. However, even though it is tempting to rant about this current situation, that is not what this article is about.

As with everything else that we find in God’s word, we need to contemplate the meaning and purpose of God for us in our own personal lives. So, I began to think about Adam and Eve and their perfect marriage. I tried to imagine a marriage that had no arguments, had two completely selfless people, had agendas for their lives that was perfectly in sync, always behaving lovingly toward each other, and had no desire for any relationship that would not contribute to the perfection of the marriage in any way. And frankly, I cannot imagine it at all. Why? Because you and I live on the other side of what happened in the next few verses of chapter 3. That is, Adam and Eve sinned and as a result of that sin, their created perfect nature died, and they became people who were subject to the very same things that we are in our marriages today. That is, we are constantly battling against our own selfishness, pride, personal agendas, impatience, anger, and all sorts of lusts for things that we don’t have.

But even in this great and horrible change in the nature of every person who would be born from those original parents, God displays his sovereignty, power, and brilliance, in what he has done with every marriage that is imperfect or shall I say, every marriage.

As I thought about the verse that says God decided to make a helper for a man, I thought about some of the ways that my wife helps me, but it seemed like I began to focus on the ways that it seems she doesn’t. Sure, she has put her heart and soul into raising the children and keeping the home straight, but we sure have argued through the years and butted heads on different issues. In fact, it made me wonder why God directed the two of us to be married. I almost questioned his wisdom.

But then, I saw it and it was this: there was a handful of significant moments during our 45 years of marriage where I did not lead our household well. In fact, I will say that I made foolish decisions that impacted her and our family in serious ways. If she had not been willing to forgive me for my stupidity; if she had not been willing to stay the course in this one flesh marriage, my life would be very different from what it is today. In fact, it would be a sad ruin compared to what it is now. In a way, she saved my life and all of the negative things we’ve experienced through the years are nothing compared to the most important moments in which I now thank God for this particular woman.

Now, if you are a Bible believing Christian and are always looking to give God the glory like me, you may take issue with my statement that my wife saved me. Of course, I know that God was working in her heart and directing her to make the decisions that she made so He does get the ultimate glory. But, let’s not forget the examples throughout the New Testament where men and women are commended for doing things that brought glory to God and could have only been done by Christ working in them. So, we need not be afraid to commend those who have done good for God while we understand that in that last day, my wife will cast whatever crowns she has at the feet of Jesus.

There is a second way in which my wife has been involved in saving me. As mentioned earlier, there is no marriage that can be like Adam and Eve’s marriage before they sinned. We are all now saddled with a sin nature which pulls us into a love of self before anything else but before any Christian can get to heaven, he or she will go through the process of growing in holiness and becoming more like Christ during their time here on earth. This is a process that no Christian can avoid because God has stated his intent in Romans 8:29 and Hebrews 12:14 adds, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

Seeing that the life of a Christian is a never ending battle against sin and striving to become more like Christ, we have to think about the greatest opportunities that God will use in our lives to grow us in Christ. My initial thought was that it might be some arena outside of the home such as the workplace, but the fact is it is in marriage we have our greatest moments to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is through years of decisions and discussions and children and all of the challenges that we face in life along with our spouse, that we find our spiritual victories and failures. So, there she is again. Due to her faithfulness, my wife saved me from a much poorer life and due to God’s brilliant design to sanctify sinners through marriage, God has used her to walk me to more Christlikeness.

Going back to the verses 18-24, I now read them with greater understanding and a greater appreciation for the absolute wisdom of God in all things, even in the things that may at times seemed not good for us. His plan is perfect. As a result of death being brought into the world by the sin of Adam and Eve, God makes a way for us to be made alive through the sacrifice of Jesus, and He sends the Holy Spirit to lead us through marriage and a life of greater holiness.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

I hope you will reflect on these verses and praise God for how He has used your spouse for His purposes in your life!

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Get-them-out.m4aGet Them Out! A Plea For Training Your Child’s Heart And Mind.

It’s that time of the year again. A time to reflect on the accomplishments of our children as they have finished up another school year. Some will have a long list that includes sports awards, academic achievements, and more. Some will have no accomplishments other than “surviving” another year. But one thing will be the experience of every child-they will have had their minds trained to think particular ways during another school year.

During those 13 formidable years, from kindergarten through 12th grade, the environment in which they have had their minds marinated will inevitably produce the desired results, preparing them for a lifetime of thinking through the daily issues of life.

This will also be a time when parents reflect on the fruit of their parenting. We know that there are many factors contributing to how a child “turns out” and not all are in control of the parents, but taking the bottom line responsibility is inevitable for the parent. For the Christian parent, there will be a private assessment (maybe not spoken aloud) of the spiritual maturity of the child, and should the parent realize that the educational environment is hurting the mental, physical, social, or spiritual health of their child, there is an opportunity to make a change for the next school year.

I believe every true Christian parent would agree if they were asked the following questions: First, “is there anything more important than the soul of your child?” Everyone would say no, the most important thing for the life of my child is that he would know and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, if any true Christian parent were asked, “what is the most important tool that God uses to not only bring a young person to faith in Jesus, but also grow and mature a young Christian?” Certainly, the answer would be, “the word of God.” And third, how would a Christian parent answer to the question, “what is your greatest responsibility before God pertaining to your children?” I think the response from 100 different Christian parents would be unanimous. All would agree their greatest responsibility before God would be to raise the children God gave them to know the word of God and how to apply it to their lives every day.

And with all Christian parents in agreement on this incredibly important parenting perspective, I struggle to understand why 90% of the children from Christian parents are having their hearts and minds trained daily by schools that aren’t only indifferent on Christian teaching, but hostile to the truths of the Bible. How can this be?

Well, during my 22 years as the administrator in a Christian School, pleading with parents to take their children out of a non-Christian School and place them in a 5 day Christian School, or a Christian hybrid school, or a Christian Co-op, or just plain old home schooling, I have heard all of the reasons as to why most Christian parents will not do it.

Some of the more common reasons given are:

• We can’t afford it.
• There are Christian teachers in the public school.
• I went to public school, and I turned out all right.
• I know of Christian kids in the public school.
• I know of badly behaving kids in the local Christian school.
• The public school provides greater competition for my child’s sports career.
• There are greater academic opportunities in the public schools.

All of these objections to sending your child to a school that teaches a Christian worldview can easily be refuted and have nothing to do with what God has given as the command to every Christian parent- to raise your child in the discipline and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Neither do any of these objections align with the answers that every Christian parent would give to the three questions that I posed above.

I believe the actual reasons for 90% of our Christian parents sending their children into an environment that is poison for their heart and mind can be encapsulated in two reasons. The first reason is that we have so many parents who have bought into worldly thinking. When I say worldly thinking, I mean that the goals and objectives that parents want for their children are the same goals and objectives that non-Christian parents pursue for their kids. These goals and objectives typically correlate with things related to money, self-worth, security, and happiness, all without any subjection to the wisdom that comes from the Bible. Therefore, in the minds of these Christian parents, a Christian education holds little value in their minds.

The other reason for Christian parents choosing to educate their children in an anti-Christian environment is due to the fact that they are trapped. What do I mean when I say they are trapped? I mean after a number of years of planning their family’s life through the grid of the loves of this world, they have built a formidable structure that supports making as much money as possible, investing in retirement, going on significant vacations, improving their social status, and having a never ending binge on entertainment of all sorts. Once a family is in this position and their minds and hearts have been fed by the short term jollies that this way of life can provide, it is incredibly difficult to rip out the roots that have grown deep and change priorities.

But that’s not to say it cannot be done. We serve a big God and with him all things are possible. He can give you the mental clarity and wisdom needed to plan a major educational change of direction for your family. It might take two or three years for you to do a reset on the priority of giving your children every opportunity to hear God’s word on a daily basis and come to know and love him now and for all eternity. It may mean a location change or a job change. It may mean letting go of some fun things that have no eternal value and do not support your efforts to followed God’s direction for families in this way. It may be hard but there is no doubt that God will bless you.

If you are newly married, you have the wonderful opportunity to plan a life of heart and mind training of your children outside of a public school. Stop and think deeply about the incredible gift of children that God has bestowed on you and the incredible responsibility you have to train up their hearts and minds in a Christian way. What does that mean? It means taking all of the precepts and commands from the Bible from front to back and both teaching and modeling obedience to those things in the life of your children. To get an idea of how serious God is about both teaching your children about Him and protecting them from an evil world, read chapters 6 through 11 in the book of Deuteronomy. You will be overwhelmed by the seriousness of our God as it pertains to children.

If your kids are grown and are getting married and maybe having kids, share this article with them and help them see and plan for parenting in accordance with Ephesians 6:4.

In closing, I just want to say that I have meant no offence to those parents who have their children in a non-Christian School. I realize that this is a hot button topic and I may be stepping hard on some toes. But I’m willing to take that chance because this topic is one of the most important topics in all of God’s Kingdom and if there is just one family who hears this and is convicted to move their children to a Christian home school or Christian day school, it is worth it. If you have objections to Christian schooling and would like me to help you think through those objections, please don’t hesitate to write to me. My address is Mike@cherishephesians64.com

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Trad-Husband.m4aThe Trad Wife Predicament: Where Are The Trad Husbands?

In an article that I wrote last week called, “Should We Fear The Rise Of The Trad Wife?”, I endeavored to make a case for the beauty and benefits of a marriage that featured the traditional roles for husbands and wives. My argument for traditional roles has its foundation in the biblical view of men and women in marriage and how having God at the foundational center of a marriage results in blessings and joy not only in the next life but, also in this one.

However, I am not naive, nor do I have my head buried in the sand so much so that I have not observed the problems in many, many traditional marriages. If you have followed any of my previous articles or videos, you will know that I regularly write about the effects of sin in our lives. I write about sin not because I want to be the person that focuses on negative things or a “Debbie downer”, but because we cannot understand how to live our lives without a very present knowledge of sin and how sin effects every part of our lives.

As we think about marriage, we have to go back to Genesis 1:28 when God, immediately after creating man and woman said, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” If I can say it reverently, God’s declaration that it was very good may have been one of the all-time great understatements. In fact, it wasn’t just very good, it was perfect because God is perfect, and he could not create something that was also not perfect in its creation. However, we don’t have to read much further in the record of the first man and woman before we see that they chose to disobey God and in that moment of disobedience, fell from their perfection and suffered the penalty that God had promised should they decide not to obey.

Think about it-if Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God, they would have had the perfect marriage and produced many, many children who would have grown up and also been very fruitful. If none of their descendants chose to not disobey God, we would be living in a world today with husbands and wives who deeply loved each other, served each other, never got angry toward each other, and never had moments where they lusted for other things or people. I know, I can’t imagine a world like that either, but that was God’s original design for marriage.

And here’s the thing that all Christians must understand and live out in their own walk with the Lord: there are many things that the Lord intended for His creation to do that are incredibly hard to do now that our entire nature has been corrupted by the effects of Adam and Eve’s sin and the sins that we commit daily, but wait for it…. He still expects us to do them! But how? Through the power of Christ working in us.

Yes, marriage is hard because every human being now wants to control the situations they are in, are led by sinful desires, and are full of pride. We are not naturally selfless nor is it our desire to serve others before ourselves. We offend our spouses and when they offend us, we have great difficulty forgiving them. What was once something so beautiful when God created it is now the place offering our greatest relational challenges. However, even though it is marred and distorted from God’s original creation, it still offers the greatest opportunities for a deeply fulfilled life.

So, the young Christian lady says, “I want a traditional marriage with traditional roles for men and women,” but surveys the landscape looking for a man who is looking for a traditional marriage and finds very few prospects. Why is this so?

Well, some of the reasons men are not thinking about embracing a traditional marriage are the same reasons women aren’t looking to live out a traditional marriage. Think about the following points and compare the outlook to a worldview that you would find in God’s word:

• Their common definition of success and happiness is tied to wealth.
• Because accumulating money is a top priority, most men now expect that their wives will go to work and support the idea so that they can obtain the material things that they want.
• They do not actively trust God to provide all of their needs.
• They are much more concerned about finding a woman they are attracted to than a woman that has a heart for the Lord.
• They do not want the responsibility of being the sole provider for their families.
• They do not want their work life to interfere with their personal avenues for entertainment.
• Everything that they have learned from the world tells them that having both spouses work will bring them greater security.
• They do not have a deep desire to have children.
• It was not modeled by their parents.

That being said, do I have a solution for the woman who wants to be a Trad wife and needs a Trad husband? Sadly, I do not. The world has bought into the lies of the sexual revolution and the damage to the culture is severe and long lasting. I would only say that I suspect that you will only find a Trad husband when you find a man that has a solid walk with the Lord and attends a strong Bible believing/teaching church. Do not look for the most handsome man but look for the man whose character reflects the love and servant heart of Christ. I have witnessed pretty Christian ladies who fell in love with the heart of a man and have subsequently wonderful marriages filled with children and joy. Pray earnestly that God will send you the right man and, in the meantime, give you a heart of contentment.

Two final thoughts. First, for those of you who do not have a marriage with traditional roles for the husband and wife, I’m not saying that you have a sinful marriage or that God cannot bless you. Please note that the first article I wrote about this topic was a reaction to an article I read that criticized a woman who wanted to experience her marriage as a traditional wife. This article is a follow up to that one and I sought to address the obvious other half (The Trad Husband) of the traditional marriage. However, as you think about traditional roles for men and women in marriage and how that may sound appealing to you, you might consider a long-term plan to make changes that would make your marriage look more like the traditional marriages of the past.

Finally, I want to encourage parents to think carefully about what they are modeling to their children. Everything that we do has an effect for multiple generations. While we do not have a large percentage of young people thinking about entering into a marriage with more traditional roles, we can prepare the next generation to think of the Trad marriage as a possibility for them when they are older. It’s a lot to think about and requires full time devotion to your parenting, but that is what it takes to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

View Details

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Should We Fear The Rise Of The Trad Wife?

If you were born in America 1950 or later, you have been in the Petri dish of cultural change. I was born in 1956 and during my most formative years (let’s say my first 20 years), I lived on the launchpad of the sexual revolution. There is a lot that I don’t remember being shocked by because I didn’t have a historical perspective that would enable me to see how utterly insane things were. Television was the primary lens through which I saw what was going on in the world, but the hippies, free love, rampant drug use, and women protesting in large cities absent of clothing, just didn’t seem real to me.

Maybe that was because I lived in a rural area and had parents who were most concerned about being able to feed their kids and raise them to be responsible citizens. They attended church weekly and did their best to teach their children to lead moral (if not Christian) lives and believed in things like manners, honor, loyalty, and hard work. They, like many Americans, also believed that the vows they made to each other in marriage was a commitment that should never be broken.

They also had well defined roles in the home. Sure, there was overlap such as in the area of discipline (mom during the day; dad when he got home from work), but the main duty of dad was to provide for the family and the main duty of mom was to nurture the kids and take care of the household. This might sound boring to today’s ears, but my mom loved pouring herself into her children and my dad reveled in seeing the fruit of his hard labor. They didn’t want anything else. And for most families, this way of family life worked. Actually, it worked great and was the normal way of living life for most people for about 6,000 years.

However, the demands that were being made and the result of so-called new freedoms, continued to roll out over the next 40 years. In many instances, the changes represent dramatic change from the past; in some cases a complete 180-degree turn.

I was struck this week by an article that ran in CNBC called, “The Rise Of The Tradwife- Why Some Women Say They Are Opting Out Of Work.” The article is interesting because of the way it portrays the traditional family life. I’ll just quote and comment.

The first line says, “If TikTok is any guide, more women are taking a traditional approach to romantic partnerships: Some say they are even opting out of the workforce entirely in favor of the so-called “soft life,” centered around their home, their family and their own wellbeing.” Stop. Note they call it romantic partnerships, not marriage and taking the traditional approach requires the commitment of marriage- but times have changed. Also, they describe the traditional approach as the soft life. I’m not sure if they intend that to be a positive or negative descriptor, but I can tell you that the traditional approach, if done with a passion and dedication, is no soft road.

The article continues and note how foreign this is to the modern women of the world and how easily it is dismissed. “The thing about tradwives is that it feels very different; it is an escape from a lot of people’s reality,” she said.” Experts say it’s a facade. Evidence shows this is something few women are actually doing, and it’s not a realistic lifestyle to aspire to.

Now we get to the underlying philosophy that has been drilled home to women especially these last 60 years: the traditional home that was led by the man is patriarchy, and that is something we have strived to get away from. “These are old ideas with fresh taglines, “Fair Play” author Eve Rodsky says of tradwives and the related social media trend of stay-at-home girlfriends, or SAHGs: “That is the definition of patriarchy — there’s nothing new here.

Ms. Rodsky goes on to say, “Tradwives are pretending they have agency over their choices,” Rodsky said. But forgoing paid labor comes at an economic cost. “The tradwife or stay-at-home girlfriends are taking huge economic risks,” she added. “What that really means is that you don’t have economic security.” Social media portrays a glamorized view of what that life looks like but “that is not realistic,” Francis said. Financial dependence can also mean a loss of power or control, she added.”

So, there it is- it’s about power and control. This is what many would believe is the most important thing to a woman today. Get it and make sure you don’t lose it. This is what will give you security. Well, that is what has not become a reality. While there are more women working than ever and making more money than ever, the rate of women experiencing the negative effects of stress on the job is higher than ever and the levels of anxiety and loneliness in our country is at a record high. Women are starting to rethink how they are spending their lives and whether or not the so called “power and control” is worth it.

But how did we get here? What is the underlying cause of all of these societal changes over these last 60 years? I believe there is a close correlation between the Christian faith and the changes. That is, as fewer people in America are true practicing Christians, the door has been opened to all kinds of foolish thinking that has systematically destroyed the desirability of the traditional family. Instead of seeing value and fulfillment in the traditional roles of men and women, many see bondage and oppression.

We should not be surprised at the outcome. In fact, it is true that many traditional families have been terrible experiences for everyone involved- husband, wife, and kids. This happens when husbands and wives do not obey the instructions that God has given in His Bible, and we try to do things our own way. Sadly, the world sees this and concludes that there is something better than traditional marriage, but the answer is not doing something else- it’s doing marriage as God designed it to be. If we would do it God’s way, joy and fulfillment will follow.

It is also true that pursuing the traditional family model is a greater financial challenge for some today. Everything, especially housing, is more expensive. But here again, the Christian must think Biblically about this. Many Christians assume having certain things is not a maybe but a must. In other words, we “must” have a house, we “must” have fun cars, we “must” go away on vacation twice a year. However, I have witnessed many young Christians who are thinking necessities rather than musts. They are prioritizing making babies and making a home whether the home is owned or rented. They are getting creative on their fun trips, avoiding the big spends that others do whether they have the money or not. They are working on contentment, something the Apostle Paul said was great gain. They are focused on budgeting wisely and having financial discipline and they are finding that they can do just fine with dad working and mom at home (and some moms are doing part time jobs from home).

One more point- many surveys and studies have found that the younger generations are longing for experiences. This is also confirmed by the travel and leisure industry as airplanes are reported to be full and cruise lines are doing great business. And here is the irony- families are settling for experiences that give short term fun without any long-term value, while ignoring the experience of walking with God. There is no greater joy than traveling through this crazy life and seeing God provide, and change, and bless, while we await the next life full of wonder and love forever.

This is the message that we must get through to our children. It is required of those parents who believe that they should be obeying Ephesians 6:4. That is, you must bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, not the instruction of this world.

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Election-is-a-word-that-divides.m4aElection. A Word That Has The Power To Divide.

Well, it’s the year 2024 and we are speedily approaching that time when we find our country most divided. However, this really isn’t anything new. I’ve kind of dreaded the last three elections in part because of the constant barrage of ads that come through my emails, phone calls, internet, snail mail, and text messages. There is no longer any place I can hide from receiving solicitations for polling, working the election, or soliciting my vote. The only other communications that can rival the politicians for my attention are all of those foreign women that want to meet me, the numerous financial institutions that have me automatically approved for tens of thousands of dollars, or my long distant relative in Nigeria who is always trying to send me $1,000,000. The common theme is a simple one: they all just want to help me and the only thing I must do is answer their call. It’s wonderful to feel that you’re so special to many!

However, all of that whining about the unwanted communications is pale compared to how I feel about two other parts of the election. About $7 billion was spent in 2020 for the presidential election. That is a staggering amount of money used to manipulate the American public through many half-truths and outright slander. And there you hear my hint about my greatest lamentation over the election. My greatest lamentation is the perversion of truth that we so often hear and see in all of these communications we receive.

Hearing me say that might cause a little consternation for some. Am I really talking about both candidates? I remember pastor John Piper speaking during the 2020 election and saying that both candidates are sinful men. He was immediately lambasted in the media for allegedly speaking negatively about one candidate and how Piper’s statement could reduce that candidate’s chances of winning. Of course, that wasn’t his point nor was it his goal to sway any voters. He was simply stating the obvious to any serious Christian- both men had serious character flaws that make it difficult for Christians to support them as President. Bottom line: bring up the word, “election” in a crowded room and you may wish you had a group of Secret Service men protecting you!

But the word, “election” is even more divisive among Christians. No, not the national election but the word election and what it means in the Bible. Sure, there are a number of things that Christians can differ about, but election is one of those areas of doctrine that Satan has used to divide us in significant ways.

There are numerous passages that we could look at but I will pick just two. The first one comes right after Romans 8:28. We all know that one and we hold it close to our hearts. It says, “and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Wow. That is an incredible promise from God and one which all Christians heartily agree on. We’re doing pretty good with our unity on that one. But, immediately afterwards we get one of the most controversial passages in the scriptures. Verses 29 and 30 says, “for those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Paul didn’t make this any easier when he wrote about God’s choosing (or election) of people and predestination in Ephesians chapters one and two. He writes that we have been chosen (or elected) in Christ before the foundation of the world (1:4), being predestined according to the purpose of God (1:11).

The arguments that surround these words did not start in the last 20 years. They started hundreds of years ago and probably were somewhat codified during the time of the Reformation in the 1500s. Almost all Christians fall into one of two categories-you are either Arminian in your view of election or Calvinistic. What’s the difference? Well, it’s a little bit complicated but essentially the Arminian believes that there is enough good in a person for them to choose to believe the gospel and God looked down the portals of time, saw them, and choose to save them because they first chose Him. The Calvinist does not believe fallen man has any ability to choose to believe the gospel, but God out of pure mercy and for His own good pleasure, chose, or elected certain people to be saved.

This doctrine has inspired some great division among well-meaning Christians through the years and as Christians, we have to understand that we are falling into the wiles of the devil. God wants unity amongst his children and Satan will use everything and anything to cause disunity.

So, what is so upsetting to Christians on either side of the issue?

The Arminian wants to defend the glory of God because he hates the idea that God would be the one who chooses who will be saved. The Calvinist wants to defend the glory of God because he hates the idea that God does not have the right to choose whom he will save.

Carrying this further, the Arminian says that if it is true God has already chosen people He will save, there would be no need for evangelism, so that can’t be true, but the Calvinist says evangelism is necessary because God has chosen those who will be saved.

For some, this division has gone to the point of declaring that the person with the opposing view is not even a Christian!

What do I believe? I’ve have not written on the topic to convince you one way or the other, but I will say that I believe the view that gives God the greatest control over everything that happens in the world because, He is God. The reason I have written this article is because many brothers and sisters in Christ have become sinfully angry with one another over the doctrine of election. This should not be so. In addition to anger, many Christians look down upon other Christians because they have a different view of election and fall into pride because they believe they are so much smarter.

Am I suggesting that we should just declare that everyone is right in their own mind so we can have peace? Absolutely not! The point is not capitulation to something you don’t believe in. The point is humility. Can we, while having strong convictions, also be willing to admit that we may be wrong? We have only to look back to some of the greatest theologians who ever lived to see that there was always something in their doctrine which seemed to be incorrect. It should remind us that the most brilliant and Christ loving men of the past were also fallen sinners. In other words, no one should believe they understand the entire Bible.

So then, what to do? If you are a lover of Christ and His Word, you might want to do a thorough Bible study to find the truth for yourself. This is what my wife did when we first became Christians. I believed one thing about election and predestination, and she believed an opposing view. Her Bible study was a great help that facilitated a deeper understanding of the beauty of God’s plan of salvation (I won’t tell you where she landed).

However, sometimes we choose to avoid serious Bible study because of the work required or we are afraid we might find out that we are wrong. My wife found out something that we are all prone to- believing the beliefs of others who have passed along what they were told to believe by those who came before them, and they may not give you the truth!

On points of disagreement with other believers, God would have us remember and live out three things:

1. Having good discussions about Biblical doctrine is healthy for Christians but it is important to understand the temptations that come along as a consequence of our fallen prideful hearts. In all things, remember that love is the end of the law.
2. Study the scriptures-not friends or famous authors, but the Bible. It is the ultimate source of truth on any matter.
3. Believe what you believe with passion, but remember that when you stand before the Lord, you may find out you erred on any Biblical doctrine, so be sure to leave that door open to a heart of humility. Lord willing, that will keep your heart and words soft toward your disagreeing brother in Jesus.

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Strictly-moral-person.m4aA Strictly Moral Person Versus True Christianity.

I have been greatly troubled by people I know who are extremely moral people but are not Christians. In this article I want to provoke you to think deeply about this issue. First, let’s look at the definition of a moral person from Webster’s Dictionary. It is quite straightforward, and it says a moral person is one who leads a moral life.

Immediately, I may be causing some confusion because you might say that every Christian is a moral person. By virtue of belief in God’s laws, precepts and instructions about all things that are right or wrong, it would seem that every Christian must be a moral person. I believe that is true. However, is every moral person necessarily a Christian? The answer to that question is no.

Think about Jesus teaching in Matthew 16. His encounter with the rich man forces us to consider the fact that we must be careful not to hold on to anything in this world and value it more than our relationship with God. The rich man obviously had money as his idol but what we also should see here was that he was apparently a very moral man. He answered without hesitation that he had kept all of the commandments Jesus mentioned.

If we look at Matt 19:16, The scriptures say, “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Let’s also refer to two other passages I think will be helpful in illustrating my point. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says,” Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

And finally, in Matthew, chapter 13, Jesus spoke of weeds that are in the field along with the wheat as a picture of false Christians being among the true Christians until the end of the age.

So clearly, there are people who are doing good things here on earth and from all appearances, are true Christians but they are not. What else can we say about the person who believes in doing the right thing but does not have Jesus as his Lord and Savior?

• The strictly moral person is often admired and complimented for their behavior. He is somewhat indistinguishable from the true Christian and so is thought highly of by Christians. He is also admired and complimented by non-believers because they too seek to justify themselves before God by the good things they do.
• The strictly moral person is often hated and mocked for his behavior by some non-believers because he reminds them that they are sinful. He weighs on their conscience so they may mock him by calling him names such as prudish, goody two-shoes, or even puritanical.
• The strictly moral person is in the worst kind of trouble because he comforts his conscience by doing his good works rather than confessing his sins. In contrast, the Christian always has a sense that he is only moments away from a great failure before God and therefore gives thanks to God for keeping him and confesses his sins daily. The strictly moral person excuses his sins with words like, “such is life,” and buries the incident by pulling up his bootstraps and pursuing better works.
• The strictly moral person reviews his life and if it has been fairly free from deep afflictions, he concludes that God is pleased with how he is running his life.
• The strictly moral person’s understanding of what we call, “God’s common grace to all men” is often referred to as “everything will work out.” When affliction arises, the strictly moral person does not look to his own soul to see if God may be calling him or correcting him through affliction. Instead, he may claim his cool response to the affliction as another good work rather than cry out to God for deliverance.
• The strictly moral person quiets his conscience any time he begins to feel true conviction by his flesh directing him back to his track record that tells him that he is doing well, and God must love him.
• The strictly moral person relies on their moral behavior to ultimately be reconciled to God. When a person chooses to make themselves reconciled to God through some other way than the absolute belief that the only way is Jesus Christ, he commits the highest kind of insult and the greatest display of pride toward God. This is the person who has never been laid low by the horrible thoughts of his own sin, so he does not cry out to the Savior either one time for salvation, nor does he desperately seek God’s help daily because he is not aware that he can’t be sanctified apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. For those reasons, the strictly moral person speaks very little of Christ in their daily conversations. This is because their walk with God does not exist.
• The strictly moral person often creates his own Christianity by being passionate about certain teachings of the Bible while others do not fit into their lives. Often the things that they avoid are God’s commands to not love the world, striving for holiness, or exhortations to deny self.

How do we minister to these people? How do we know who they are? Frankly, I do not have a good answer to that question. It is possible the Lord might reveal to you a professing Christian you know to be a strictly moral person. If that happens, I believe the best thing you can do is to gently walk him through the gospel and the absolute dependence on the mercies of God as if they had never heard the gospel.

What about you? Are you a Christian with morals or a moral person only? It is a lifesaving question that requires deep thought and those thoughts will be hard. We are working against our remaining flesh and Jerimiah reminds us in 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” So, why bother, right?

We bother because God thought it was important enough to have Paul write about it in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Dig deep, brothers and sisters, and I’ll see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

View Details

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Injustice.m4aThe Problem Of Injustice.

As Solomon once said, there is nothing new under the sun. Unfortunately, one of the things in life that I wish would no longer be under the sun is instances of injustice.

Injustice is a lack of fairness and God hates it. Proverbs 17:15 says, “he who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.”

Injustice is also something God’s people detest because we have the mind of Christ. Proverbs 29:27 says, “an unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.”

Of course, some might think that Christians should not be subject to injustice in this world but that simply is not God’s plan. Some of the greatest examples of injustice are found in the Old Testament. Think about David and Saul. Their relationship began with David defeating Goliath and essentially saving Saul’s Kingdom. And what does he get for that? After an initial good reception, Saul eventually becomes jealous of David and seeks to kill him. He hunts him throughout the land like a dog.

And what about Joseph? We all know the story about his own brothers selling him into slavery where this injustice is only beginning. He is also unjustly accused of trying to rape his boss’s wife and later, is unjustly forgotten by a man he helps get released from prison.

Or consider one of my favorites. Uncle Laban, the father of Leah and Rebecca, and how he did a wicked bait and switch on Jacob’s wedding night. But he wasn’t done with his injustices. He later broke promises to Jacob more than once and kept him captive for more than a dozen years. Every time I read that story, I fantasize about getting my hands on good ole Uncle Laban so I can share a little justice with him on behalf of Jacob.

By saying that, I give more than a hint about how I feel about injustice. Frankly, I can’t stand seeing people get away with it. That kind of attitude is nothing new under the sun for the Christian either. The writer of Psalm 73 says, “For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore, pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness, their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore, his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

Judging injustice

However, as those who suffer from the consequences of Adam and Eve sin, we must be careful to not judge things to be unjust unless we know all of the facts. I often have to catch myself as I rush to make a judgment call on any particular situation. I go through the questions that I must ask of myself such as, is there another side to the story? Am I being manipulated by one side or the other? What facts do I not have? Can I know a person’s motives? Did I experience the injustice firsthand or am I hearing about it only from others?

Proverbs 18:13 says, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”

There are sufficient warnings in scripture to make me hesitate before I draw conclusions. Romans 2:1-4 says, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?”

Jesus Himself says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

But even after asking myself those questions and reflecting on these warnings from scripture, there is still something deep inside me that screams, I want answers!

Some injustices are on a national scale but there are other injustices that are closer to home, maybe even in our own families. Speaking of the ones closer to your circle, you may choose to pursue the truth regarding an injustice. If so, you may choose to go to the parties involved in the alleged injustice seeking to learn the truth firsthand. Depending on the nature of the injustice, you may want to have someone go with you. Your approach should be filled with humility, your tone gentle, and your body language free from a projection of guilt.

Still Not Satisfied?

After you give careful thought and prayer to any situation where you find what you believe is injustice, and after you have garnered the truth of the matter, you may find that you have no power to stop the injustice. Finding yourself in that predicament, you may be tempted to become bitter and even question God. Again, this is not uncommon to men.

Consider Job, a righteous man whose life was decimated. Ironically, both Job and his friends missed the big picture. Job’s friends were trying to explain to Job justice had been done because of Job’s great hidden sins. On the other hand, Job was trying to connect why this tragedy had happened to him because he did not have great sins. Both Job and his friends were focused only on the behavior of Job, but what was actually happening was a much greater cosmic event that God was orchestrating. Job and his friends took a very wooden view of justice and did not allow for something other than justice going on. At the end of the book of Job, God does come to Job and gives him an answer, but the answer has nothing to do with justifying the reason for Job’s suffering. However, he did get an answer from God that justified God being God, and for that reason, there was no need to give an answer to Job’s questions about his suffering.

The Answer We Need To Trust In

The writer of Psalm 37 and the writer of Psalm 73 has clear answers for us. Both Psalmists are painfully observing injustice in the world around them and what appears to be not only a lack of justice toward them, but actual prosperity. But as they express their thoughts, they come to realize that the ultimate justice for injustice is the absence of a relationship with almighty God. The punishment for the wicked could not be any greater. We can be sure that all injustices will be addressed by God whether they be committed by the wicked, or even by those who are God’s people. The consequences that God brings will be different, but they will be perfectly just. What remains to be considered is our own behavior and thoughts in this matter.

Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 3:16-22, “Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?”

Injustice will always be with us in this world. What matters for each of us is how we react to the injustice. Ultimately, we are commanded to leave injustice to the Lord. He says, vengeance is His, and not ours. As the children of God, we cannot behave like the beasts. Mindful of our weaknesses, we may seek to address injustice in this world in a way that honors God but remember that we will often encounter roadblocks to righting injustice. Such work is for God and God alone.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Reports-of-my-death-under-exaggerated.m4aReports Of My Death Have Been Greatly Under Exaggerated.

I don’t know if I have shared this before, but I recently attended a surprise birthday party where the theme was the 70s and disco was the music for the evening. Prior to arriving at the party, my wife and I agreed that due to a number of aging body parts, we would not get on the dance floor. However, soon after the music started and the Bee Gees came on, I lost control of my feet, and they took me involuntarily onto the dance floor where I subsequently partially tore a quadriceps tendon in my knee.

If you’re listening or reading this week’s article, chances are you don’t know me, but you are happy that I gave you a good laugh for today. And yes, it’s OK to laugh at me. At 68 years old, I should have known better so as some would say, stupid gets what stupid does.

Anyway, that’s an introduction to the reason why I was seeing a physical therapist yesterday. I’m not sure exactly how we got into the conversation, but I think my therapist said something about me sounding negative about the somewhat unsuccessful physical therapy done on my previous injury- a ruptured Achilles tendon.

To give a little more context, the tone of the office where I receive my physical therapy is generally upbeat and full of laughter. I might even say I enjoy going there. However, my response to her comment about me sounding negative completely threw a wet blanket on the conversation I was having with my therapist and her assistant. All I simply said was, we live in a fallen world and because the curse is real, I wasn’t being negative, I was just dealing with reality.

The reaction of my therapist and her assistant, both professing Christians, was initially a look of extreme discomfort but after we talked a little bit more, there was agreement that what I was saying was true and what I was also saying was that even though we need to think through the implications of our mortality, I wasn’t giving up on doing the best I could do to recover from my injury. I still had a stewardship issue of this aging body and I wanted to honor God in my efforts to get well.

When it comes to talking about fallen humanity, the curse, and death, the reaction I received during my physical therapy session is not unusual. You would expect this kind of reaction from those who reject God and the biblical truth concerning life in a fallen world and the unavoidable appointment with death. However, it is unfortunate that many Christians have a similar reaction. I think it’s helpful to talk about why that may be so.

First, I do want to say that there is nothing sinful about not wanting to deal with the thoughts of losing someone you love in this life. For example, I believe my daughter’s, “let’s not talk about that,” instant response to me talking about dying over the years was rooted in her not wanting to think about her life without me.

But when we become very uncomfortable when someone talks about death in general, I think we need to go a little bit deeper. Why is it we can enjoy planning for our financial security or a vacation trip that we are going to go on, but so many people avoid planning for death and beyond? Why is it that the hardest kind of decision to make is the one to purchase life insurance?

Is it possible we don’t talk about death and heaven because it threatens our life here? Is it possible we can’t imagine something better than the lives we lead right now? Is it possible we are not truly believing Jesus when He said He has gone to make a place for us and in that place, we will be in the presence of God forever?

I want to introduce a new thought to you, and it may sound a little bizarre to you at first, but I think it is true. You will recall that God told Adam and Eve if they ate from the one forbidden tree, they would die. Of course, we know that they did go ahead and disobey God and because he is perfectly holy and just and can never lie, he executed the sentence that he had promised. Yet, they did not die immediately.

In giving time to them, and us by extension as their children, God was gracious and had a perfect purpose in doing so. Even though the sin of Adam and Eve deeply marred God’s creation and His relationship with His creatures, He initiated an immediate plan of salvation to ultimately restore what He had created and make a way for us to be reconciled to Him through His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, there is purpose for us in the time we have, and that purpose must be weighed in light of the curse and impending death each day. We have time to enjoy each other and the things of this world, but not to the extent that they become the driving force and focus of our lives. The world lures us daily to avoid planning for heaven by burying any thoughts of such with positivity or the constant chase after fun. It is a strategy built on avoidance of truth and ultimately has no profit.

Let’s think about what God tells us about death in Ecclesiastes 7:2-4:

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

You can see all three of the verses address this as a matter of the heart. One of the reasons it is good to consider the implications of the curse and death is because doing so points us to God and the gospel. In fact, it would probably be most helpful if we attended a funeral every week! Consider Psalm 90 and Moses’ prayer to God. The entire Psalm is worth meditating on but here I will choose only verse 12: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”.

Solomon and Moses knew that death and afflictions in a fallen world sober our souls to think more about our need for salvation and preparation for life beyond the grave. It is a necessary part of us being ready to transition from this world to the next. Other reasons to embrace conversations and thoughts about the curse:

• It matures our thinking and longing to be with Christ.
• It encourages greater obedience to God and prayer that he will expedite His work in conforming us to the image of His Son.
• It restrains us from the temptation to develop an idolatrous love for the world we presently live in.
• It makes us more thankful for every day.
• It sharpens our sense of accountability to the Lord.
• It underlines our need to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us for this relatively short period of time.
• It reduces the confusion and bewilderment that we often experience when death is suddenly thrust upon us.
• Rather than creating thoughts of anxiety about the subject of death, it actually brings a person greater peace.
• It prepares us to be better witnesses of God’s grace to a watching world when we enter into that phase of soon leaving this world for the next.

There are probably many books written on this subject that go much deeper but here I’m just getting to the tip of the iceberg. I hope you can see there is great good in not just falling into the crowd that avoids the topic, but rather embracing the truth about this fallen world, the curse, and death. God is certainly glorified when we think about all of our life in such a way where every thought is held captive for our good and His glory. These thoughts are the ones that force our minds back to the gospel and our absolute dependence on God’s mercy and grace.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-2024-Plumbing-the-depths.m4aPlumbing The Depths Of His Suffering.

With the passing of 365 days, we have now completed our return to the week that compels us to think more deeply about Christ. When I think about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I usually think about something he said during his ministry years or something that he did, but I don’t think about the cross. Sure, it’s always there in the background- there is no escaping it because it is central to accomplishing the mission Jesus came to complete, but it is not always at the “front of my mind.”

However, as my wife and I sit down to pray in the evening and ask forgiveness for the sins of the day, we are reminded of the terrible yet beautiful price that Jesus paid for us and for a moment, my mind reaches for a greater understanding of His sacrifice. As I am sure you have experienced, sometimes a moment in time seems to expand into a plethora of thoughts seeking answers before you return to the scene.

And it is in this moment, my mind seeks answers to two questions. The first question is about the extent of Jesus’ suffering. During the week of Christ’s humiliation and His victory over death, many pulpits will speak of the horrific details surrounding Jesus’ last hours. There will be descriptions of the effect of a diabolical whip that tears the flesh from the victim, a crown of thorns with thorns as long as 12 inches pressed into His head, and the hour-by-hour process of death on a cross. Some preachers will give greater detail than others, seemingly with the intent of shocking the congregation into a deeper faith in Christ. In addition, some churches will produce a play depicting the final week of the Lord’s life, complete with the hoisting of a man tied to a cross on the stage for all to see.

I am sure the descriptions and illustrations of this momentous event will be used by God to edify His people, but much of the descriptions of what Jesus suffered will be the physical pain He experienced that was seen by others. My question is about the depth of the suffering that no one could see- the wrath of God laid on Him for my sins and all who would believe in Him.

Pondering that question leads to my second question which is, how many sins have I committed in my life? I may be losing you here but stick with me as I think this is a worthwhile exercise for every Christian. In order to get some perspective, I calculated the number of minutes I have lived. Everyone is gifted 525,600 minutes each year they are alive. To get my life total, I multiply that by 68 years to learn that I have lived more than 35 million minutes. Now apply the command from Jesus in Matthew 22:37 to get closer to answering the question: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

And what is the answer to the question of how many sins I have committed? I don’t know, but I do know that I can go through much of each day, thinking very little about God but thinking a great deal about myself, my wants, my agenda, and my whatever. In short, I have sinned in thought, action, and deed millions of times. And that’s the wrath just for my sins. How many believers have lived through the years? We know the way is narrow, but it is likely that at least a million people have been saved by grace, through faith. Don’t worry, I’ll stop with the math at this point because it is clear that the numbers are staggering.

However, in order to paint this picture of Jesus’ suffering, we would need to know what the just payment was for each sin. But we can never know that because it is one of those secret things that God has chosen not to reveal.

Why do we need to think about these things? Not to become depressed over our sinfulness, although it should produce sorrow, but to know the depth of God’s love more fully to us. I believe we know little of what Paul is praying for in Ephesians 3:18, that they “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I’m suggesting that in order to understand the grace and love of God more fully to us in Christ Jesus, we first must more fully understand the depth of our sinfulness and the magnitude of the suffering Jesus bore from His Father, not the Jews and Romans. Those thoughts will fill us with thanksgiving, praise, and as Paul writes, the fullness of God. And as we walk through this life with those thoughts front of mind, we will not be tempted by the short term loves that so easily ensnare us.

Last thought- there are many Easter traditions that families enjoy, but don’t forget to take the opportunity to share the gospel once again with your family members. That’s raising your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

View Details

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/You-be-you-meets-I-am-who-I-am.m4aYou Be You Meets I Am Who I Am.

The world is telling lies to our children and they are not just believing the lies, they are embracing them. When I say the “world”, I am referring to a system of beliefs that is against God in every way and seeks to teach people that belief system, so they will never believe in Jesus Christ. This is not another Netflix conspiracy movie. It is not the latest conspiracy theory that is being promoted on the internet. No, this is a fact that is clearly taught in the Word of God and is one truth that is not disputed among Christians. The ruler of the system is the fallen angel Satan, and he has been a liar and deceiver from the beginning. He hates God and he hates God’s people, and he is a master at blinding people from the truth.

But even though this is a well known fact among believing Christians everywhere, Christian parents don’t seem to know that it is happening to their children every day and therefore, do nothing about it. So, how does Satan do this you say? The answer is really quite simple. He recognizes the weaknesses in the heart and mind of a child and exploits them using God’s design for love, worship, and learning.

Let’s think about some examples. First, what does the world tell a young person when he fails at a task? Rather than teach a Christian way to handle failure, it tells him, “You did great! You are awesome.” When a young person continues to fail in their pursuit of a dream that they clearly cannot attain, the world says, “you can do anything you set your mind to.” When someone in authority tells a young person that they should obey, the world says, “adults don’t know anything, and you have a right to rebel.” When things are not going the way a young person wants, the world says, “just withdraw from the world and create your own.” “When people are telling a child that they are making terrible decisions, the world says to kids, “ignore all of that noise and just follow your heart.” And if you really want total freedom, the world tells kids, “you are only going to be happy if you throw off all chains that are holding you back, even your gender.”

Lies, lies and more lies, all delivered to your children through Instagram, YouTube, chat rooms, television, and movies. It is a never-resting system that produces innumerable false content daily for your child. But wait, there’s more. Satan exploits the God-created need for every person to worship and experience love, so he uses all of these tools to indoctrinate children to believe that ungodly celebrities are worthy of their worship. And guess what, we all attempt to emulate the people we worship. So, he uses these people as pawns in his system so our children can love them and model their young lives after them. They are the movie stars, the musicians, and the athletes that entertain America.

This is not hidden by Satan. It is all out in plain sight for parents to see. And anyone can plainly see the worship that is taking place in our young people. Have you ever wondered why young people are wearing crooked hats on their heads, bury their heads inside of a hoodie, suddenly have a desire to color their hair pink? Just go online to see the latest meaningless fashion. Our children want to be like them and they believe if they mimic these godless people, they will be liked by their friends. That’s small potatoes compared to our children cutting themselves or considering suicide. Why? Because they are believing the lies about how to be valued, how to be liked, and how to feel good about yourself.

And the great destroyer, Satan is in no hurry. He uses another principle that he learned from God- that you get great results when you sow and reap. He is willing to begin his sowing in our kids at 2 years old, water and fertilize that crop for 10 years, and reap a harvest of sin when they hit the teen years.

But what have the Christian parents been doing all this time? Why are they not more diligent and not allow their children to be “worked over” by the devil and his minions? I can only speculate. Is it possible they don’t fully understand the teaching from God that tells us that the children are in bondage to sin? Or maybe it’s hard to embrace the fact that our children are fallen when we see them as sweet and precious in their early years? Whatever the reason, the truth is parents cannot expect children to discern what is good and true in this world. They simply have no filter.

There is another possibility and that is some Christian parents have not let go of worldly thinking themselves. The parents have adopted some of the ways of the world and their own filter has been damaged. Is their flesh secretly longing for the world’s version of freedom and happiness and therefore are part of the gateway that Satan uses to the hearts of the children? If so, it’s not us against the world and Satan, it is us against us. That’s hard to contemplate.

There is only one true model for our children, only one way to defeat the world and the devil, and that is Jesus Christ. We can teach Jesus to our children through every life experience. Jesus submitted to authority (his Father); Jesus experienced the abandonment from His friends; Jesus experienced physical pain; Jesus served others; Jesus loved others so much that He died for them; Jesus was rejected by crowds of people. I could go on, but the point is this- we have a person who is the perfect model for our children but guess what- we musttalk about Him.

We must talk about Jesus all the time. For some that might feel awkward or maybe we are concerned that we might sound like Bible thumpers. If that is your concern, you need to repent. We can’t talk too much about Jesus. He is not a seasonal character; He is our God and He calls us to actively walk and talk with Him daily. He is the only hope you have for your children because when the modern day mantra of “you be you” meets I Am Who I Am, the devil is crushed.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Paper-Over-It.m4aAge Old Problem For Church Leaders: “Duck and Cover” followed by, “Paper Over It.”

Not too long ago, I was a front row observer of how one elder board responded to a threat to their church. For the record, I am not telling you about something that happened in my church. Not that it couldn’t happen in any church, but this story is about another church where I had intimate knowledge of the situation due to the fact that I was asked to counsel the man accused of a wrongdoing.

What happened? An accusation toward an elder from a person outside the church was mailed to one of the elders and the first reaction from the elder board was to “duck and cover.” Some of you may not be familiar with this term which was very common in the 1950’s and 60’s during the time that America lived in fear about a possible atomic war. Schoolchildren would practice for such an event by crawling under their desks and putting their hands on top of their head. There they would remain until the teacher gave the “all clear.”

Such fear is not uncommon among church leaders, even those who regularly preach that we serve an all-powerful, sovereign God. But even if we give a pass on to those men who are prone to an initial reaction of fear, we cannot give a pass to church leaders who follow the duck and cover with a series of actions designed to “paper over” the situation at hand.

Merriam-Webster gives this definition for paper over: to gloss over, explain away, or patch up (differences, disparities, etc.) especially in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement.

Every threat to the church introduces an opportunity for church leaders to do one of two things: they can either go straight at the threat with the goal of uncovering the truth and dealing with it appropriately, or they can deflect the threat by bypassing the truth and finding a way to appease the one who brought the threat.

If they choose to confront the threat, the church leaders will have to be prepared to “slog it out” through a fact finding, deliberative process that may inflict damage on the church. To take this route, the leaders will have to trust God for the results and live with them, whatever they may be.

If they choose to deflect the threat, they will have chosen what may seem to be the most expedient way (“paper over it”) and hope it go away. They will not do it God’s way (what is true and just) and should the threat fail to go away, they will be locked into further efforts to paper it over. In the process, people will unjustly become collateral damage.

Why do church leaders often choose to “paper over it?”

1. Financial Fear. When a church has little or no assets, they have no problem trusting God through a threat to the church because they have nothing to lose. However, as a church grows and acquires more things of value (ex. church facility), there is now the temptation present to do what is necessary to protect those assets. The equation is a simple one: loss of a lawsuit or some kind of scandal = loss of church members + loss of revenue. And loss of revenue = loss of ability to pay debts + reduction in personnel needed to balance the budget. Sadly, due to the spiritual weakness found in most congregations, getting the church’s “junk” out into the open often leads to more people leaving, but church leaders must remember that they have not a charge from God to protect assets; they have been charged to be faithful. It is the Lord’s church, and He will do as He pleases with it.
2. Mistakenly perceived security. This is related to the first reason for fear. As the years pass, church leaders age and somewhere along the way, a man imperceptibly flips the switch from, “Lord, I will go anywhere for you” to “I just don’t know what else I would do if I didn’t work here.”I had those thoughts during the last of my 22 years as Headmaster of a Christian school and it can certainly pervert your decision process. I also recall many conversations through the years with others about financial security concerning the issue of being in a salary job versus a commission job. Most would say that the salary position is a more secure income source, but that’s just bad theology. The truth is for the elder or anyone, it is the Lord who raises people up (prospers) and the reality is there is no such thing as job security apart from the Lord.
3. Insufficient Human Resources. It is not unusual to find a situation where there are too few elders to properly serve their congregation’s needs. As a result, elders may choose to take “short cuts” to compensate. These short cuts can undermine God’s wisdom in the plurality of elders and bypass the built-in wisdom that the church needs to handle the multifaceted problems.
4. It “seems” like we should handle it this way. When church leaders don’t follow God’s precepts for running the local church, they are now trusting in human wisdom instead of God’s wisdom, and that’s not going to work for God. He may be gracious for some time, and it may appear that He is not doing what you expect Him to, but eventually His Love for His people and His requirement for perfect justice will compel Him to bring the hammer.
5. Pride. As a former leader of a Christian institution (school) I was often faced with the decision to make an incident public or keep it private. Sometimes there are truly God- honoring reasons to keep things under wraps. However, there were other times when revealing a problematic situation would necessitate revealing how badly I had handled it. Enter the pride monster. Pride can make us hide things, hope that we are not asked any questions about a situation, refuse to acknowledge that there are growing fissures in the ministry, terribly misjudge people and motives, or justify almost anything.

Clearly, this is not trusting God and not living in light of God’s goodness and sovereignty. It is fear- led church leadership that attempts to dodge the potential pain of leading in a fallen world by duck and cover followed by attempts to paper over it.

This isn’t a 2024 problem. This is a leadership problem that Paul addressed to Timothy. Paul was speaking from experience and knew what not only Timothy would face, but all church leaders. The bottom line for Timothy: it will be hard and at times, ugly and painful. But no matter, you must be faithful in your ministry. Paul says to Timothy-

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. (2Timothy 3:1-5)

”I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:1-5).”

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality (Timothy 5:20-21).

If you are a church leader and you’re in the middle of at least one of these kinds of situations, I encourage you to gird up the loins of your integrity, deal honestly with the sheep, and fully trust God for whatever happens. May God give you the strength to do so.

If you are a member of a church, that is exhibiting this kind of behavior in the leadership, you need to remember three things in order to keep you from becoming angry and bitter.

1. Injustices will happen within the church. We need to remind ourselves again that all men are proficient sinners at best and the men who are running the churches are fallen creatures just like you and me. They are dealing with all the implications of their fallenness in their personal life, and their lives as church leaders. Because of that, you must accept the fact that they literally cannot be 100% objective in all of their decisions and therefore, mistakes and even sinful ones will happen. More than anything else, they need our prayers.
2. God is perfectly capable of running His kingdom. Whatever happens on this planet is the will of God, because guess what? It happened. Scripture teaches us throughout the Bible that He is in control of all things, and there is a perfect, holy purpose in Him permitting sinful behavior.
3. We serve a God of perfect justice and ultimately, every wrong that has been committed will be accounted for. It may not be in our lifetime, but it is going to happen, and God tells us that we must leave it to Him and focus on what the Lord has done for us. King David wrote Psalm 37 he was greatly distressed by his view that injustice was pervasive in the culture and the Lord was doing nothing about it. Look at what David says in the first few verses and then what he says later in the Psalm.

Verses 2-3: But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Verses 16-19 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!

I believe if you can do these three things, God will remove the burden that is not yours to carry and return you to a times of refreshment and joy like the water that Jesus gives and “becomes in you a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Thanks for listening.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Intro-Music-copy-5.m4aThe King Said Do What I Did. Can We Ignore Him?

Have you ever had a “lightbulb moment” while you were reading the Bible and rushed to share that truth with a person who had no response? It’s kind of like sharing a joke that you have found to be really funny and when you give the punch line the person just kind of stares at you with a dead grin.

Well, I guess in a way, I am trying to get the same response with every article I write. I’m sharing my “lightbulb” moments and I want you to be just as excited as I am. Yes, I know what you’re thinking- sometimes you listen or read some of my stuff and just kind of scratch your head wondering what I was so excited about. So, here we go again.

I continue to read through the book of John and have crossed into chapter 13. One well known commentator on the Bible has taught that you should always look for the drama in the passage. Now that sounds a little dangerous to me because I don’t want to make the mistake of reading things into the text that are not there. However, there are certain parts of scripture where you simply can’t escape the drama and chapter 13 is one of them.

Let’s think about John 13:1 where John says,” Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

I think it’s vitally important for us to attempt to wrap our heads around the fact Jesus was fully God and fully man. The part of that truth that is difficult for me is the fully man part. It is easy for me to vastly underappreciate the full range of things that Jesus experienced just like any other person. If he walked too many miles one day, he probably got a blister. If he was working with His father Joseph as a carpenter and His hammer missed the nail head, He would have gotten a badly bruised finger and a lot of pain. He got hungry, got thirsty, and in addition to physical experiences, ran through the full gamut of thoughts and emotions without sinning even once.

So, when we come to chapter 13 in the book of John, we must try to enter into his mindset. He knows He will soon be leaving these men He has loved, He will be betrayed by one of his inner circle, and He will soon be experiencing both physical and spiritual pain beyond our understanding. Yet, with all of that weighing on His mind, He is still taking the time that remains to instruct these men so they will be prepared for what they are about to witness. When John writes that he loved them to the end, I believe it means that he loved them as much as anyone could possibly love others, and he loved them to the very end of his time with them.

Verses 2-5 says, “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Jesus did many things during his time here on earth, but this is surely one of the most shocking moments. This is the Son of God in the room. He has just stripped down essentially to his underwear, and is doing the task typically reserved for a lowly servant. How can this happen? Is this really part of God’s plan for His Son? Do you feel the urge to suggest a revision of events? Maybe it’s just me thinking like boneheaded Peter and in the following 10 verses, there is an exchange between Jesus and Peter about this seemingly completely unacceptable moment.

Following that, John writes in verses 12-15, “ When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

There are some churches who believe they are obeying Christ by having regular occasions for foot washing, but they miss the point of Jesus’ example. We know from the text that the first major point is about cleansing, but it’s not about cleansing feet. It is the spiritual cleansing we receive through the gospel and no man can do what the Lord does for us in that way.

The second point Jesus is making is about humility. We all understand that we should be obeying commandments and imperatives laid out for us in the Bible, but I don’t think we think deeply enough about this one. Jesus is saying to you and me, I am God, yet I am willing to stoop down to the lowest level conceivable in order to care for those I love. When I wrote that previous sentence, I had to stop again and think about the words, I am God. He is the God of all creation, all powerful, all knowing, absolutely glorious, and He stripped down to wash the stinking dirt off the feet of these men? This must be unacceptable! But it is not; it is part of the praiseworthiness, or the glory of our Savior.

You probably have already thought about the following passage, but I’m going to say it anyway so it may sink in even deeper into our hearts and minds. Paul gives us more details in Philippians chapter 2 on God’s purposes for us in the humiliation of Christ-

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This is what we just witnessed in John chapter 13. Notice in Paul’s passage the word “mind” is used three times- same mind, one mind, and have this mind. How then should we be thinking? Just like Christ was during his time here on earth. He said repeatedly in the gospel of John that it was not about His glory but the glory of the Father. He said repeatedly that it wasn’t His teaching He came to share but the words that the Father had given Him. He counted all of his sheep more significant than himself and put their interests above His, even to the end.

Humility was the character of our Savior and King and it must be a major focus for us if we are the children of God. Remember, children who do not resemble their Father are probably not the children of the Father’s family.

So, what does this look like in everyday living for us?

Answer: I am no expert on this! But I have a few ideas that may be starting points. What if we got into the spiritual discipline of waking up each morning and making it a priority to think of at least one way we can serve someone we love today?

As a husband, I have more ideas for the men than I do for the women, but I thought:

• Let me clean up the kitchen tonight (or maybe every night)?
• I’ll take the vacuuming this week or maybe the laundry duty?
• How about cleaning the toilets? Wait, did I just cross the line?
• Can you cook at least one meal a week?
• If you are a home schooler or your child usually needs some help at home with their schoolwork, take some of that responsibility typically borne by one of the parents.
• Can you think of anyone in your workplace that you can serve, especially those who labor under your supervision?
• What about the children? This certainly doesn’t mean giving them whatever they want. Maybe they just need to see husband and wife serve each other so they will learn to emulate that love.
• Do you have to win every argument?
• How about turning off the TV, not touching the phone, and laying down the iPad so you can give your full attention to your spouse and listen to what they are trying to say to you.

By the way, there are some people who think serving is the gospel. In other words, they are really falling back into a works-based salvation which is not going to save anyone. No, this is the outworking of a person who loves Christ and wants to be obedient to the example that He has given us.

This may sound like a hard thing to do, and you are right. If you are a Christian, you still have remaining sin and the flesh that will not be fully mastered during your time here on earth. Your battle is intricately woven into your sanctification. Selfishness and pride will certainly stand in your way and your calling is to “kill” those sins. Thinking back to the book of John, it is in chapter 13 and 14 where Jesus will begin to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit. Praise God that He has thought of everything. He knew that even though Jesus breaks the power and guilt of sin in our lives, the Father has sent another to give us the strength to obey, the Holy Spirit. Much to pray about!

Thanks for listening, see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

A Call To Prayer By J. C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MESSAGE. Enter your email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

View Details

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Impossible-to-believe.m4aThe Impossibility Of Believing In Jesus Christ.

Recent time in John.

As you may know, I recently decided to create an online commentary on the book of John for people who are not familiar with the Bible. This idea came to me as I was trying to figure out how I can share the gospel with someone 1000 miles away.

As I went through the book of John, my sense of amazement and gratitude was refreshed, and I want to share that with you so we may mutually benefit.

My condemnation in Adam.

I don’t know if you had the same sense of how things might work with God but before I became a Christian, I believed that there was a way for me to make God happy enough to allow me to be in heaven after I died. My basis for doing so was the belief that on average, I was a better person than most. The question I had yet to be answered was when I would have to begin the process of accumulating good points with God before I died. Of course, in my early years, I calculated my chances of dying before becoming 50 years old was slim.

Of course, now I know that at no point I was not already condemned. The sins of Adam and Eve had already plunged humanity into a state of condemnation and a bent to disobey God from the very day I was born. The day of me becoming serious about my dealing with God never existed in the way I was thinking about it and at any point- my childhood, teen years, or adult- I would have been bound for hell if God hadn’t decided that I should live.

John quotes Jesus in chapter 3:17-18: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

My rejection of the gospel.

Interestingly, I heard a version of the gospel growing up that should have been enough for me to realize the state I was in and the need for a Savior. However, I loved my sin too much to pay attention to any of that stuff. John writes in 8:34, Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

And in 3:19-20, hear Jesus teach, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

Freedom available and communicated.

Freedom from that slavery was available to me all the years that I lived. John writes in the first chapter of his letter, “in Him was life”. Could I say that I missed the message? I don’t think so. I have seen it again and again on billboards, rear car windshields, and signs held up by people at every sporting event that said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”(3:16). In fact, those signs became so common that people stopped writing out the verse and simply put up John 3:16 on the sign. But I never gave it a second thought.

But it’s impossible for a dead person to believe.

In chapter 3 of John’s letter, Jesus tells us about the impossibility of believing in him. He is approached by a religious leader who really wanted to know answers to the most important questions about God, And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus goes on to make it clear that a man cannot do anything to achieve this necessary state of being born again. He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

In other words, there has never been anything that I or any person could ever do through their own efforts to satisfy God. Becoming born again is something that only God can do. This was shocking to Nicodemus and frankly, shocking to me when I first understood this. However, in light of the fact that all human beings are in a slavery and bondage to sin from which they have no power to escape from, it only makes sense that the power to break free must come from something or Someone outside of us.

Jesus goes a step further with Nicodemus when He tells him, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jesus later reiterates this point in chapter 6, verse 63 where He says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.”

Praying for our loved ones.

I don’t know if you have a list of people that you pray for to come to a understanding of the gospel message and a love for Christ. My wife and I have a handful of people on our prayer list that we are pleading with God to send his spirit like a wind blowing into the hearts of these loved ones. We pray for one married couple who are counting on their moralistic lifestyle, a person who has developed her own version of Christianity, a man who is looking forward to reincarnation, several people who are basing their future on God weighing the scales of their life on the good side, another married couple whose God is money, a person who interprets the Bible literally to a fault, a person who simply does not know anything about the gospel, and a person who says she follows Jesus, but doesn’t do anything in her life that Jesus commanded His followers to do.

All of these people believe that everything is going to work out for them. They are walking toward a cliff with blinders on. And as I thought about the words of Jesus, our prayer list, myself, and my wife, I was struck again by Paul’s words in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 through 4, where he reminds me that we were just like them:

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Why me?

As I tried to process all of these truths, I could not avoid the question, why did the Spirit “blow in my direction” as it were, and give me a new heart? I was just as blinded to the truth as all of these other people, but the Spirit gave me a new life, a life and mind that could now understand the things that Jesus said were true, and I ran as fast as I could to him.

The answer to the question, why, is locked up in the mind of God. We know that whatever he does, He does not act out of compulsion but only out of His own good pleasure. I sure would like to understand that more, but He has chosen not to reveal those kinds of answers to His children. For today, I have been drawn back into the wonderment of God’s incredible grace to me. I hope this article has prompted you to join my heart in thanksgiving to our Lord for his mercy.

Thanks for listening, see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

A Call To Prayer By J. C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Music.-Can-You-Handle-The-Truth-About-It.m4aMusic. Can You Handle The Truth About It?

Of all the articles I have written, this one might garner the ire of more Christians than any. Let me start by talking about the amazing attributes of music in general. Music has the ability to change our mood, to give us comfort, to hype us up, to cause fear, and reduce anxiety. It can influence behavior. It can help you memorize things more easily. It can make you forget about where you are or what you were doing. How this happens is not completely known and that should be no surprise to us because music and the ability to use it for good, is a gift from God. Music is truly amazing.

But just like every other good thing the Lord has provided for us, there is a being known as the destroyer, or the devil, who is roaming about this world looking to pervert every good thing from God and turn it into something that will bring all kinds of harm to people. We learn from Ephesians 6 that this devil is wily. He is sneaky and crafty and devious and hardworking, and some of the things that he does in the world are barely noticed by Christians. Therefore, Christians leave their minds and hearts unguarded against his devices. There is no question in my mind that music is one of those gifts from God the devil is using against us.

In this particular tool of the devil, we only need to go back to the Garden to see how he works. There, Adam and Eve are using the gift of words to communicate with God in perfect harmony. The devil does not come up with a new way to communicate with Adam and Eve but uses the same means to tempt Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. He takes God’s word and perverts it to fool Eve. Fast forward to today and nothing has changed. In Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17:17, he prays that his Father would sanctify us by the truth using His word. It is through God’s word that we grow in our faith and think and act more like Jesus Christ. This is a critical component for the Christian life as God has determined that his Spirit will use the power of his truth to change us.

The words of God’s truth are communicated to our souls through the reading of His word, listening to His word through recordings of the Bible, preaching and teaching, or through singing or listening to music. We find singing throughout the Old Testament during times of worship and thanksgiving, as well as times of fear and tribulation. One of the most revered books in the Bible, the book of Psalms, is a book of songs. The apostle Paul knew this well and during his time in jail, we read that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God (Acts 16:25). Additionally, Paul wrote to the Ephesian church and Colossian church, and instructed them to, “address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (Ephesians 5:19) and to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Col. 3:16).” We also know from the Book of Revelation that there will be singing before the throne (Rev. 14:3). Note: all of these songs are filled with words that build up the heart and mind of the believer or put another way, sanctify us in the truth.

But what are we filling our minds with? Are the words of our songs pleasing to God or is it of this world? Let me quote John Piper on this point: “There is such a thing as worldly music. One of the marks of worldly music is the exultation in a worldly view of life. A worldly view of life is a life that leaves Christ out and approves of what he disapproves. That is worldly. Worldly isn’t a sound; worldly is leaving Christ out. That is why it is called worldly and not Christly. And it approves of what he disapproves. It is called worldly because it treasures the world above the one who made the world. It revels in the very self-centeredness that gives rise to the miseries of the world.”

OK, let me stop right here to say something because I know there will be some who listen to this and look for any small exception in order to dismiss my entire point. I know because that’s what I do when my flesh doesn’t want to hear truth that convicts me to change. So, when I’m talking about worldly music, I’m not talking about every piece of music and every song that doesn’t specifically mention God or Christ. There are probably a million songs that have been written about many wonderful and beautiful things in life that reflect God’s creation or His general good to all people. In that same way, I am also not talking about the incredibly beautiful music that has been written through the years that doesn’t have lyrics.

I am talking about the never ending production of songs and lyrics that convey an unbiblical view of relationships, portray fornication as normal, ultimate happiness through anything but Jesus, divorce as indifferent, materialism as essential, authority as something to be ignored, perverted sexuality, the abuse of women, manipulation of people, racism, power through violence, and self as being the number one thing every human being should be most concerned about. And that’s the short list. This is the work of the devil using words to train our brains to think in all sorts of godless ways.

And your response to that is, songs don’t affect me in that way? If you believe that, you have an argument with God himself who put the following in our Bibles because He believes it does matter. He commands that we pay attention to every thought and deed for which we will give an account. Listen to God powerfully speak to us in the following-

Romans 12:3: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Colossians 3:1-2: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Of course, these commands are not relegated to one part of our week but is to be the mind of the Christian 24/7. Also, God does not want a part of our mind and heart, he wants all of it. There is no part of our lives that he is not sovereign over and expects we would be willing to walk away from anything that he hates. In fact, Jesus has purchased us for His Father with His precious blood. We are no longer slaves to anything sinful but now we are slaves to righteousness.

How hard is it for Christians to walk away from their love for secular music? It’s incredibly hard to do. Why? Because our hearts have been trained to love it for decades. For most of us, secular music is not something we sought out on our own. Many of us were introduced to it by our parents or the culture we grew up in and were never warned about the danger. It took hold of us and became part of our psyche. But that doesn’t mean God will give us a “pass” on this part of our lives. Anything that God hates, we must hate and if we don’t we should be concerned for our souls. John Piper had an interesting question which I’ll share here: “The issue is whether we are at home in enjoying ourselves with the way the world thinks. Let me say that again: The issue is whether we are at home in enjoying ourselves with the way the world thinks.”

Which leads me into some thoughts about our children. For the sake of the hearts and minds of our children, would you be willing to do for them what nobody did for you? Or, maybe a different incentive to change would be helpful- if you want to lessen the chances of you having misery during your child rearing years, would you be willing to deal with the issue of ungodly music? In other words, you have an opportunity set before you to stop the kind of training of your child’s mind that would lead him or her to think being a rebel in your home is cool, or that life has no answers and is just a ball of confusion, or you are crazy and should be ignored when you want them to think about boy/girl relationships in a Biblical way, or their lives are ruled by emotion.

Remember, there is a destroyer, and he wants to bring misery to your family; he wants to snatch the truth out of their minds and replace it with godless thoughts. This is the battle. Tell your children today that you have become convicted of the need to protect your mind and theirs against ungodly thoughts by eradicating the love of worldly music. I know- it’s going to be hard, but the blessings of walking in obedience to God will be so much greater. This is raising children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians6:4).

Thanks for listening, see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

A Call To Prayer By J. C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

YouTube: Not on YouTube just yet.

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Meat-Eaters-Milk-Drinkers.m4aIn his warning to professing Christians to be on guard to not fall away from the faith, the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 5, verses 11-14, About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

There is lots to think through here but of particular note is the apparent link between the continued need for only milk and the dullness of hearing. That is a vulnerable place for the Christian to be as he continues to face the temptations from the world, the flesh, and the devil. The consequences for milk drinkers become clearer in the next verse: unskilled in the word of God, undiscerning, and unable to distinguish good from evil.

It should come as no surprise then that the writer follows this with a strong admonishment to move onto maturity lest you become like the field that does not bear fruit and is cursed and destroyed by fire. This is a very scary warning for you and me.

In reading some of the writings of the Puritans, I have concluded that my faith is more like the milk drinker than the Puritan meat eaters. The writings of the Puritans have a theological depth that give evidence to a deep passionate faith and practice in Christ. It stirred me to think of Paul’s prayer to the Colossians in 1:9-12, where he says, And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

The goals that Paul prayed for the Colossians seemed to be reached, or at least they strived to reach, by the Puritans. However, their focus in life to know more about God and apply what they knew to their everyday life made them a target for derision in the world. They were thought of as people who were too serious about their religion and those who never had any fun. The funny thing is that they would have said they were having great fun in their pursuit to know and obey God, but they called it joy. And they did not only think of heavenly things, but applied all wisdom given from heaven in every aspect of life here on earth.

My admiration for the Puritans, or maybe it’s just envy of their faith, was provoked again during my recent reading of, “The Mortification Of Sin.” It was a very helpful book to me because it helped me in an area of my Christian life that is near the top of the list for the Christian’s life priorities- how to fight sin and become more like Christ. I was excited to record the book in modern English and encourage others to listen (see links below) or go to ModernPuritans.com and read it online. Unfortunately, I have checked the numbers on YouTube and Apple Podcast for number of listeners and the action has been, well, sad.

But I am not giving up! I am recording a book by another great Puritan preacher and teacher by the name of Thomas Watson, and it is called, “ All Things For Good.” This is not about that hollow response to bad things that happen, “it’s all good.” No, that response carries no reference to God or Christians and was used by everyone. This book is all things for good to those who love God and is based on Romans 8:28- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

This verse is certainly in the top ten verses that Christians speak to themselves and others when experiencing trials or tribulations, but do you believe it? Of course, you say you believe it, but if you were to play back all of your reactions over the years to the trials that you experienced, could you say that you always and immediately responded to the trial in a way that showed the fruit of belief in Romans 8:28? I know I haven’t. And what about James’ words in James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, or Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances, or Peter in 1 Peter 1:6 rejoice in various trials? How has that been going for you? Have you been rejoicing in trials because you know God is working all things for your good? I’m pretty good at putting on a good stiff upper lip, but rejoicing? Not so much.

This is where, “All Things For Good” is a tremendous help to my soul. Watson gives us a detailed explanation of how God attributes work good to the Christian. He shows how the power of God, the wisdom Of God, The goodness of God, the promises of God, the mercies of God, the Spirit of God, the angels, and more all work for our good.

These were all a great encouragement to me, but it was the chapter that explained how the worst things work for our good, really provoked me to understand Romans 8:28 at a much deeper level and caused me to rejoice. So, I’m going to give you a snippet of that particular chapter here in the hope that you will want to listen or read this great Christian book. I am about halfway through the recording of the book, but you can listen to it on

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

Or, YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Or, read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Here is the snippet of gold from “All Things For Good” By Thomas Watson:

Therefore, I will demonstrate to you how affliction works for Good.

1. Affliction works for good, as it can be a source of guidance and instruction – “Listen to the discipline of the Lord” (Micah 6:9). Luther once said that he could not fully comprehend some of the Psalms until he experienced affliction himself.

Affliction helps us understand the true nature of sin. The sermons we hear tell us how terrible sin is, that it is both corrupting and damning, but we don’t take it seriously. So God sends affliction our way and then we experience the bitter consequences of sin. A sick bed can teach us more than a sermon ever could. Affliction is like a mirror that reflects the ugly face of sin.

Affliction helps us to understand ourselves better. In times of prosperity, we often don’t know ourselves. God allows us to experience affliction so that we can gain a better understanding of ourselves. When we are in distress, we can see the corruption in our hearts that we would not have noticed before. It’s like a glass of water that looks clear, but when heated, the scum rises to the surface. When we are prosperous, we may appear humble and grateful, but when we are put through the fire of affliction, our impatience and lack of faith become evident. A Christian may say, “I had no idea my heart was so bad, or that my corruptions were so strong and my virtues so weak.”

1. Afflictions work for good, as they can help make the heart more devoted. In times of prosperity, the heart can become divided (Hos. 10:2). It can be pulled in two directions – towards God and towards the world. When God takes away the world, it can help the heart to be more devoted to Him. Correction can help set the heart back on the right path. It’s like when we hold a crooked rod over the fire to straighten it; God holds us over the fire of affliction to make us more devoted to Him. It’s a blessing when sin has caused the soul to drift away from God, and affliction can help bring it back.
2. Afflictions work for good, as they help us to become more like Christ. God’s discipline is like a pencil, drawing a clearer image of Christ onto us. It is important that the Head and the members of the body of Christ are in harmony. We should strive to be like Christ, even if it means going through suffering. Jesus Christ experienced a great deal of suffering, as He was a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). He wept and bled. He was crowned with thorns, and we should not expect to be crowned with roses. It is beneficial to be like Christ, even if it means enduring suffering. Jesus Christ drank a cup of bitterness, and although He drank the poison of God’s wrath, there is still some bitterness left in the cup for us to drink. The difference between Christ’s suffering and ours is that His was atoning, while ours is only corrective.
3. Afflictions work for good to the godly, as they are destructive to sin. Sin is the source, and affliction is the consequence; the consequence helps to eradicate the source. Sin is like a tree that breeds a worm, and affliction is like the worm that eats the tree. Even the best heart has much corruption; affliction gradually works it out, like fire purifies gold, “The Lord did this to purge away his sin” (Isaiah 37:9). We may have more of the rough file, but we have less rust! Afflictions take away nothing but the impurities of sin. If a doctor said to a patient, “Your body is unwell and full of bad humours, which must be cleared out, or you will die. But I will prescribe medicine which, though it may make you feel ill, will carry away the remnants of your illness and save your life.” Wouldn’t this be for the patient’s benefit? Afflictions are the medicine God uses to rid us of our spiritual diseases; they cure the swelling of pride, the fever of lust, the cancer of covetousness. Don’t they then work for good?
4. Afflictions work for good, as they help us to detach from worldly attachments. Just like when you dig away the earth from the root of a tree, it helps the tree to become free from the ground. Similarly, God takes away our earthly comforts to help us to detach from the world. Every flower has a thorn, and God wants us to be like a loose tooth that can be easily removed without causing us too much pain. Weaning is a natural process and even the most experienced saints need it. The Lord breaks the conduit pipe so that we can turn to Him, who is the source of all our joy.
5. Afflictions work for good, as they open the door to comfort. In the valley of Achor, which signifies trouble, there is a door of hope (Hos 2:15). God sweetens our external pain with internal peace. He can turn our sorrow into joy (John 16:20), just like He turned water into wine. After a bitter pill, God gives us something sweet. Paul had his prison songs, and God’s rod has honey at the end of it. The saints in affliction have experienced such joy that they felt like they were in the borders of the heavenly Canaan.
6. Afflictions work for good, as they can help us to grow. “What are we, that you should pay attention to us, and that you should check in on us every morning?” (Job 7:17). God uses difficult times to help us grow in three ways.

OK, that’s just a taste of the meat that Thomas Watson enjoyed and is offering to us. I hope you find it appetizing and will hunger for more on the audio recordings or the book!

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

Or, YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Or, read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Thanks for checking in. See you next time.

OTHER RECORDINGS THAT YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL:

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ? Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

YouTube: Not on YouTube just yet.

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: “Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God” By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/When-To-Quit-Sharing-The-Gospel.m4aRecently, a situation arose in my own life that led me to think that an article about when to stop sharing the gospel with an unbeliever might be helpful to those in the same situation. However, since that initial thought, I have gone back and forth in my mind on whether or not it was a good idea. You’re probably not going to get this kind of analysis in a book on evangelism. I mean, how can we ever stop sharing the gospel with a person? The idea seems to be unloving or even disobedient to the Great Commission. And if we are talking about not sharing with a loved one or family member, it may be said that not doing so is downright hateful.

Yet, the idea of not sharing the gospel with certain people or not continuing to share with people that we have already shared the gospel with is not something that has been cooked up by me or any other man. The words come from the One Who commanded us to teach and preach about Himself- The Lord Jesus. In Matthew 7:6 Jesus says, Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. It may be hard to hear a person being referred to in that way, but God is harsh and clear in His words about those who reject Him. He uses words for unbelievers like an abomination, wicked, and haters of God.

At first blush, there seems to be confusion, maybe even a contradiction between Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission) and Matthew 7:6. But looking more carefully, we can see that there is a difference in context. The Great Commission is the broad sweeping command from Jesus to evangelize the world, but the command in Matthew 7:6 is an exception to the command. The command in Matthew 7:6 requires us to evaluate the situation before we continue in our evangelism. We see this being worked out in Mathew 10:11-14 when Jesus sends out the disciples-

And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

And again, in Acts 13:50-52 with Paul and Barnabas– But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

In both situations, the evangelists intended to obey the Great Commission, but abandoned sharing the gospel based on the initial response from the people. They were looking to see if God has already prepared the hearts of the people so they would receive the truth of the gospel and if not, they moved on. It is interesting to note that after the Bible says that Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet, it does not say that they were deeply saddened because the people didn’t receive them. It says, they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. I don’t take this to mean that they were happy that those people didn’t get saved, but rather that it is an indication that they did not take any responsibility for the message being rejected. They were very aware that only our sovereign God could open those hearts to the good news and thus, they were rejoicing simply in the privilege to be used by God to deliver the message.

Unfortunately, knowing when and when not to share the gospel is not so easy for us. We do get some valuable instruction in the case of the scoffer, but in every other case it is a difficult question to answer. Let’s look at the case of sharing the gospel with a scoffer first. The scoffer is one who despises the truth and despises authority. They typically show this by their words, body language, or actions. They can be divisive and drag others down with them with their deeply sinful attitudes. We see scoffers and mockers in the New Testament railing against Christ and Paul (Matt. 12:24, Luke 4:23, Acts 13:45 and more).

And what are they railing against? Not just simple words that contain truth. Jesus gives us the perspective that we should have in Mathew 13:45 when he describes the gospel news as a beautiful pearl: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” That pearl has been purchased with the precious blood of the King of kings, andsuch a pearl should not be thrown into a pen of pigs or a pen of scoffers.

The scriptures help us understand who the scoffer is and how to react to them. They are dangerous and should be driven out of a group (Proverbs 22:10); they are the little yeast that works through the whole dough (1 Corinthians 5:6); they do not like to be reproved or rebuked (Proverbs 13:1 and 15:12); they delight in their scoffing (Proverbs 1:22); and we are fools to continue to bang our heads against the spiritual walls that they have erected (Proverbs 9:7-8).

So, I believe it is clear that we are not to continue to share the gospel with those who are clearly scoffing at the gospel. But what about those who are not scoffing? What about those who are just not “getting it” even though we have spent countless hours talking to them on the phone, meeting in person, or writing letters? This is where we will need to have godly wisdom and discernment and this is where I think it would be helpful to raise a number of questions about what is going on in your heart, not the person to whom you are sharing with.

But before we go there, I want to lay down another incredibly important truth as we dive into this area of evangelism and that is this: PEOPLE DO NOT SAVE PEOPLE FROM THE WRATH OF GOD. Yes, I put that in ugly caps because I am raising my voice for emphasis. I suppose that most of you already know and agree wholeheartedly, so I won’t make this article any longer by citing proof texts. The truth is that God is the only one Who has the power and authority to blow life into the heart of an unbeliever and only when He does, the unbeliever understands and loves the good news of the gospel, repents of their sins, and cries out to God to be saved. This fundamental truth will reverberate through the rest of this article.

With that being stated, I think it would be good for me to provoke thinking about the issue of when to stop sharing the gospel by anticipating questions and using a question and answer format to address them.

Q: Faith comes by hearing, so how will they believe if I stop preaching at them? They will never get saved!

A: You are correct in saying that they must hear the gospel in order for them to believe the gospel, but have you fallen into the wrong belief that you are the only one that God can use? Do you realize that taking the approach that you must speak truth to them may be an indication that you have forgotten the power and wisdom of our sovereign God?

Q: Isn’t it true that if I continue to share the gospel truth no matter what the circumstances, it will likely soften their hearts so they will eventually believe?

A: No, sharing the gospel and calling a person to repentance and belief may be actually result in hardening their heart against God. The Bible teaches that with every rejection of the truth, the heart is hardened, not softened, and after a period of time, the conscience can become seared and no longer be moved by the gospel message. An example of this is the experience of the street preacher in rough downtown areas. The lost person has heard the gospel many times and may even agree to lots of things about Jesus, but it has not led to a change of heart. They have heard it so many times and it means nothing to them. I am not saying that we should not preach to those in the streets because we do not know what God may do. My point is that we should not think that if we continue to hammer a person with Biblical truth, we are moving them closer to genuine faith.

Q: In the past I have had success in constantly badgering a person with Biblical truth. I kept after them for a long period of time and they finally gave in. So, I don’t agree with this idea of not sharing after some point and time.

A: You have had success? Hopefully, your words are not truly indicative of what you believe. You did not save anyone. If anyone was saved it was God and God alone Who used you as a tool to do His work in a person. In addition, what God has done with one person that you know is no guarantee that He will do the same with another. He will have mercy on Who He has mercy! This may be sinful presumption.

And finally, how do you judge “success?” Can you know that a person’s faith is real or that they will persevere to the end? Again, we are brought back to realize that there are the secret things of God; things that He does not reveal to us (Deut. 29:29). It is His domain of knowledge, not ours.

Q: Is it wrong to strategize my evangelism in order to best explain the truth?

A: No, I think our evangelism calls for wisdom and discernment so we can establish an environment for clear communication. I think about what Paul did in Athens and how he preached in the context of their love of many gods and how he later insisted that Timothy would be circumcised so it would not be a stumbling block to the Jews. However, we can fall into sin in our evangelism when we begin to believe that our strategies or plans will be the deciding factor in a person’s decision to come to Christ.

Q: I have an absolute resolve that I will never stop preaching at this person until they fold their sinful tent and come to Christ! Am I not a warrior for Christ?

A: Having a deep concern and love for a person that manifests itself in a commitment to evangelize them is a noble mission. However, with such determination we can begin to lose sight of how this mission may affect other parts of our life. Should that determination begin to affect your Christian duties such as your marriage or family in sinful ways, you may be making the target of your evangelism an idol. This might be a reason to pull back or stop sharing the gospel in this situation. God does not call us to commit sin in one area of our life so we can please Him in another.

Q: The person I am sharing with is a person who continues to hurt others because of his love for himself. I need to continue to step in and get this situation fixed by making sure that they get a new heart and begin to lead their life in a God honoring way.

A: It is painful to watch a sinful person hurt the people that are around him and it is true that they will need Christ in their heart in order to lead a life faithful to the Lord and good for others. But again, it is important to remember that God has many people and many ways through which He can share the gospel with that person you may not be His choice. After many efforts over an extended period of time, it may be that the only thing you are accomplishing is the destruction of your relationship. It is important that your relationship be maintained so that you will have a new opportunity to share if God sovereignly chooses to open that person’s heart in the future.

Q: I am very frustrated with the person that I have been sharing with. I have been at it for a long time, and they don’t seem to care at all. Is this a reason to stop sharing?

A: No, your frustration is not a reason to stop in itself. However, it is a reason for you to repent of your frustration and remember that you are dealing with a spiritually dead person. Also, you may need to remember that you must wait on God to do the work in their hearts and if He has not, your continued frustration is actually a form of grumbling against His timetable. If this is an ongoing sin issue for you, it may be time to pull back on your evangelism with this particular person.

Q: Can you just give me a formula for deciding when to stop sharing the gospel with a person?

A: I know we all love to get those how to steps, but there is no formula. Every situation is unique because every person is unique. What do they know? What has been their reaction to hearing the gospel? How long have you been sharing? How does this particular time commitment and effort affect the rest of your life?

Q: Does stopping the evangelizing of a person mean that I shouldn’t talk to them anymore?

A: Absolutely not! Lord willing, you have some level of a relationship with that person and God calls us to love and care for all people. You don’t know when and if God will begin to draw that person to Him and when he may have questions for you about the gospel. We should live open, Christ-reflecting lives, and continue to make mention of how Christ is working in your life.

Some concluding thoughts- Sharing the gospel is a wonderful privilege and mission for the Christian, but there may be situations both in our lives and the lives of those we desire to evangelize, that would instruct us to stop sharing the gospel, at least for a period of time. Remembering the fact that it is God Who is in absolute control of our evangelism efforts and being vigilant about our own sinful tendencies are critical to God honoring efforts to share the good news.

I’ll leave you with one final comment that may be the bomb of this far too long article and that is the necessity of prayer in evangelism. As I examine my own practice, I see how shamefully shallow my prayers are for those I am sharing with and those who I desire to share with. If you are like me, this lack of prayer is revealing a belief that it is me who is in control and it is me that has to figure things out, and it is me who has the power to convince a person to believe the gospel. Much repentance is needed.

Are there times to stop evangelizing a person? Yes. Are there times where we should stop praying for a person to come to Christ? No, and I am afraid of that day when I am face to face with the Lord and He shows me the consequences of my lack of prayer. May we not presume on His grace today by continuing in slothfulness and unbelief!

OTHER RECORDINGS THAT YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL:

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ? Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

YouTube: Not on YouTube just yet.

Title: Messages You Want To Share With A Friend Or Loved One. Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This one has 11 different recordings of parental concerns including how to love difficult people, how to deal with angry children, family feuds, how can I know I am a Christian, and more.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-messages-you-want-to/id1681581764

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfa3amEo_gqzBt6ypv4KX1

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: “Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God” By Jonathan Edwards And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards will sober you up to the awesomeness of God. It is updated in modern English by Modern Puritans.com

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-sinners-in-the-hands/id1695783947

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjGDaS1xyeRC8vUJFwsxxaX

Title: The Mortification Of Sin By John Owen And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This famous treatment on killing or “mortifying,” sin by John Owen, has been updated in modern English by Modern Puritans. You will have to think hard but it is worth the journey.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQhOf-5DP2eZY4M91_NdlKwI

Title: Can You Trust God? Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: Trusting God is not always easy in the midst of difficulties. We tend to trust in the things that we can see and feel and often succumb to anxiety or despair. My purpose in writing and recording this booklet is to create an ironclad argument for trusting God no matter what the situation.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-an-important-question/id1680420137

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHI31v5yt695Yuvc_VSyHA

Title: Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Written and Recorded by Michael Lee

Description: This is the podcast that has the weekly article from the Cherish Ephesians 6:4 ministry.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4/id1658865547

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQj2iqoMVx36VEbpUZEQcyom

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Blessing-Or-Curse-Of-The-Education-You-Choose.m4aLast week was graduation week and I had the joy of seeing another class graduate from the school I labored at for 22 years. Due to another family commitment, I was not able to get the school in time to enjoy the graduation ceremony but did get some time afterwards with the parents and students that I had known for many years.

The ceremony was held in the school gymnasium and as I walked in, I observed and experienced a variety of emotions. Our school is academically rigorous and for some students and their parents, the work that they had to put in strained them for many years. For others, it was easier but still a challenge. In either case, the euphoria that comes with crossing the finish line of a marathon was on the faces of students and their parents. Many had been at the school for a good number of years and a handful attending since kindergarten- a grand total of 13 years! There was also the great sigh of relief that they no longer had papers to write and examinations to take. And there was that great sense of accomplishment.

But for me, the best part of the day was the speech from the Valedictorian. Because I showed up late, I did not hear it live, but thanks to the recording that was posted on YouTube the following day, I was able to enjoy it from home. He spoke of his time at the school and the formation of his own character as it was cultivated over his 13 years. He gave thanks for his teachers and the time and investment that they made in him, and the security and comfort of coming back to the school he knew and trusted each year. But what he really wanted to stress was how the school taught him to reason- that is, to think deeply about the world within the context of Biblical truth. For me, and I am sure everyone that works at the school, his words validated every day’s effort of helping parents train their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. It was the evidence of what God can do when faithful teachers teach all of the subjects within the glorious framework of the Bible.

As in previous years, I walked out of the building and reflected on the fact that what had just happened in this 400 student Christian school was not being duplicated elsewhere in our county- a county that presently has more than 41,000 school aged children. That’s not entirely true because we have to also factor into our calculation that there are about 2,000 Christian homeschoolers families in our county so maybe the number of kids being Christian schooled is about 2,400. AndiIf you do a little basic math on this graduation week, you will see that there are less than 6% of the students in our county attending a Christian school – a county that many would call a “Christian” county.

Sure, there are people who can’t afford our Christian school tuition and other families that can’t do Christian homeschooling, but there are many who can and choose not to. Clearly, there is something terribly wrong. As I thought about this sad reality, the joy and thanksgiving that I had coming out of the gymnasium after the ceremony quickly changed to lamentation.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to educational decisions, so I have written and recorded a number of podcast episodes for Christian parents to consider. There are no do overs on your child’s education. When they get to graduation day, you will be faced with a child that has been blessed by your educational decisions or cursed.

I’m going to get you started with something that I recorded called,” Ten Ways To Harden A Child’s Heart Toward God.” It’s only 18 minutes long, so you might be able to have a quick listen while on the way to work or when you go for a walk. Here is the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250?i=1000605063213

You may also notice that that episode is one of 6 episodes on the topic of education. The entire podcast is titled, “Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Presents Critical Considerations for Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education.” There is a lot there to consider and I hope you will listen to each episode.

In addition to that series of episodes, I now have 11 other separate podcast shows that I am filling with audio episodes of various topics to help Christian parents. For instance, I am seeing quite a few plays on “Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Presents Thoughts For Young Men.” This is based on a wonderful booklet written by the great Pastor J.C Ryle. You can find that one here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

Some of you may know that last week I released a new podcast on managing money. That one is called, “Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Presents Choose Your Master: God Or Money.”** You can find that one by going here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

In the weeks ahead, I’ll be highlighting one episode each week from various “Cherish Ephesians 6:4 Presents” on topics such as:

• How Can I Stop Losing It With My Kids?
• Angry Children
• Family Feuds- How To Respond
• Duties Of Parents
• From Religion To Christ

And by the way, I apologize to all of the non-Apple people who may not be able to get to these podcasts on Google play or some other way. Lord willing, we will soon have all of this up on the Cherish Ephesians 64 website. Thanks for listening.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

https://www.cherishephesians64.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Reason-Christians-Dont-Pray-For-Christ-To-Return.m4aThe thinking that was the genesis of this article started as the result of yet another conversation with a fellow believer about the crazy world we live in with lots of seemingly crazy people. This dear brother was expressing the frustration that we all have when we deal with a non-believer (and sometimes a believer) who apparently does not understand that they are making decisions that are clearly detrimental to those that they are supposed to be helping. We find these situations every day in the workplace, our government- practically everywhere where there are people.

My response when I am in one of those conversations with a frustrated believer is to simply remind them that their expectations have been poorly calibrated and that the root cause of the problem is sin in the world. And their response to my comment? Maybe a brief hesitation before the conversation continues, but the conversation does continue, and it does not include a discussion about sin and the effects on our world. This topic doesn’t seem to get much traction among Christians. Yes, we all know that Adam and Eve sinned, and we are all sinners, blah, blah, blah, but I believe that most Christians don’t live their lives with a full orbed understanding of the implications of a sinful, fallen world, and how that should inform their thinking and actions as they walk daily with the Lord.

Creating and walking in an unreal world is the business of the non-believer. They refuse to acknowledge God, so they suppress the truth and create a god of their own liking, typically based on the things that the one true God has created. They must worship something or someone because God has hardwired every human being to be social and that includes an ability to have a relationship with Him. And it’s not just one god, it is many gods that they must continue to love and pursue so they can bury any possible thought that they should repent and love the God of the Bible. They have no fear of God in their hearts. They love this world and never want to see the return of Jesus.

And what are the sinful effects that I am talking about? The Bible describes man as wicked and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart are only evil continually. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. The person who rejects Christ delights in doing wrong and rejoices in the perverseness of evil. He is rotten to the core and out of his heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. In other words, God says that the man who does not worship God is an idiot- a crazy person. These descriptions are not of people only in Biblical times, but of all people for all times.

So, when we experience or interact with people who believe it is a good thing to kill babies, should we be surprised? When we encounter people who think that we are being hateful and unloving when we challenge the idea of changing the sex of a five year old, should we be frustrated? When the company that we work for makes policy changes that are clearly the opposite of God’s revealed will for His creatures, should we be confused? No, these things are not the exceptions to what happens in a fallen world, they are the expected.

Unfortunately, believers have also created an unreality. No, not because they hate God, but because they too have many loves in this world. This is especially true in our blessed country where God has enabled us to have access to so much in terms of wealth and health that we have become more focused on this world than the next. We love our cars and homes, our vacations, our sports or celebrity heroes, and the multitude of ways that we can entertain ourselves. We plan and work hard to make sure that we get our share of these temporal things, but we forget, or don’t fully understand, that this is not the world that we should be preparing for and that all of our efforts in life should have both our present home and our future home in mind every day.

So, what does this mean for Ephesians 6:4- to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? Well, I think it is a big deal. Far too often, parents refuse to talk about anything negative or sinful that goes on in the world with their children. There are reasons for this, but I think they are flawed. For example, some parents just want to create a world of enjoyment for their children. They might say, “let’s just let them live a kid’s life.” On the surface, it sounds kind and loving, but once again, it is not reality. So, when the neighborhood bully whacks your child in the mouth, you are not doing your child a favor to simply handle it by telling the child that they won’t play with that kid anymore. No, that is an opportunity to talk about the perverseness of sin in people, even the neighborhood 8 year old.

Running headlong into the effects of a sinful, fallen world are not isolated incidents. No matter how much a parent tries to shield a child, the child will experience the sins of others at school, in any job, and even church, and for the person who has not been taught what to expect in this fallen world, it will be a source of frustration, disillusionment, and confusion.

What does this look like in practical terms? Well, here is what it is not: I am not saying that parents should load their children’s minds with the woes of the world. I am also not saying that any one woe of the world is appropriate for a child to hear and process regardless of his age. What I am saying is that parents should work within the framework of discussing the effects of a fallen world as the Lord providentially brings people and situations into the life of your child. Using the example of the neighborhood bully, the child should be taught what the Bible says about the fallen and sinful heart of the bully and what the Bible would instruct the family to do next.

There are at least three wonderful things that can come out of weaving the realities of a sinful world into your child’s mind through Biblical parenting discussions:

1. To create a sense in your child’s mind that there is something greater than living in this world and it’s not Disneyworld, Marvel fantasy movies (which I love)- it’s heaven with God. This will help create a Christian worldview of his life.
2. The opportunity for you to talk about your own heart and life experiences before and after you came to know Christ. Remember what Paul wrote: you were once just like those non-believers in all of their wicked actions and sinful desires.
3. The possibility that your child may begin to see that he needs the Savior to save him from his own sinful heart and from this evil world.

All of this brings us once again to the heart and mind of the parent. Sadly, I believe that we don’t pray for Jesus to return because we are happy right where we are now. We are not longing to escape the muck that we live in because we are immersed up to our eyeballs and can’t see it. Things are pretty good but guess what? They aren’t. Prayers for the return of Christ should be part of our daily petitions before the Lord. Lord willing, if we start praying that way, the Lord will light the fire for His return in us.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Life is more complicated that it was years ago, and the general busyness of life does not lend to reflection. I am grateful that the Lord has brought me to a place in my life where I have the time to sit back, think about my life, study God’s word, and attempt to bring some application for the benefit of others.

As I share some of my own personal experiences, I realize that they are not particularly profound, but during a time in our lives where even the most basic traditional beliefs are under fire, the seemingly mundane things of the past may hold more weight than times past. For example, does it matter if a mom and dad show love and affection to each other in view of their children? I think it does.

My father was not an especially large man. He was just over six feet tall and weighed about 175 pounds but was wiry strong. He was an exceptional athlete and could master any sport, but basketball was his thing. I hated playing against him on our basketball court because he would shove his way in and shoot a circa 1940 hook shot that always went in. He never let me win until that one fated day when I was big enough and could jump high enough to block his shot. I think he enjoyed that day more than I did. I had arrived in the basketball world… at least on our backyard court.

Nevertheless, He was the king of our home. My mom ran the household and would have to deal with her five children each day, but when we got out of line in any kind of a serious way, we knew that we did not want to have to deal with the king when he got home from work. For a number of years, he worked up to three jobs to keep food on the table, and when he came home, my mom treated him like he was the king. She adored him and we could see it.

She cooked what he loved and made sure it arrived on the dinner table without delay. At those times when he was particularly exhausted, she did all she could to allow him to sleep and recover. We watched her serve him.

But it was a love that was not one sided. It was not uncommon for him to slip into the kitchen while she was working to prepare dinner and sneak up and her with a hug and a kiss. He would pay a lot of attention to her wherever our family went and was quick to hold her hand. I remember the weddings we attended and especially when they would dance. Always holding each other close, they would look at each other with loving eyes. She was his queen. And we watched them love each other.

And he served her in the ways that were incredibly meaningful to her. He built our home, he dug the water wells, he built a basketball court for his four boys, he worked as much as it took. Occasionally, he would buy her things or would encourage her to buy something for herself, even though we had no money.

And then there were the days that he got home early. Sometimes he would spend a few minutes with us on the basketball court, but then would head off to get cleaned up and “smellin’ good” before dinner. He’d show up in the kitchen (again), intentionally getting in the way before getting in a quick hug and kiss. On some of those early days home, they would exit the family room area and head toward their bedroom before any of us children went to bed. My dad used to tell us that it was time for him and my mom to go to “Mary white’s party”- that is, hit the sheets. Later, we would hear some giggling and laughing from their room. We didn’t know what was going on, but we knew it was good.

Neither my parents nor any of their children were Christians early in life. They did not know that we were made in the image of God. They did not understand that God made man to be fruitful and multiply or that we were designed to be social beings and to appropriately show affection to each other. But even though they did not know The King’s design in any deep way, there was enough of His design left in his fallen creation that my parents could love and respect each other as king and queen. And thankfully, we observed it and learned to treat our spouses in a similar way.

You and your spouse may not be very affectionate toward each other in front of your kids. It may be something that does not come naturally to you. It may also be that you may not think it is appropriate. However, I am making an appeal to you be intentional about showing loving affection to your spouse in front of your children. Show them the beauty of outwardly caring for each other in the ways that God has designed. They will not see it modeled on TV, the movies, or the internet. I promise you that you will get a reaction. When they are young, they will probably squirm. When they are in their teens, they may tell you to get a room. And when they are adults, they may just sigh and look away. But you are showing them Christ in your marriage and there are plenty of opportunities to open a discussion about godly human sexuality- an incredibly important topic in this day and time.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

The numbers are staggering. Various studies estimate that the average person spends about $200,000 in their lifetime on creams, lotions, moisturizers, anti-aging, make up, hair, and fitness. I’m not going to do it here, but you may want to do some math to work out the implications for a husband and wife’s long term savings prospects. And of course, it is clear once again that there are so many things that we place great value on that are only temporary and at the end of the day, worthless. There is a word for that but I’m not going there in this article.

Moving on, I want to focus on how parents often model gossip and slander to their children. You see, I don’t believe that most sins children commit are developed as much as they are learned. Don’t get me wrong- the Bible clearly teaches that we are all born sinners with a fallen, sinful heart that has a bent towards sinning. Sinful desires are innate to fallen man. But, the ways in which those desires are actually made manifest in sinful actions I believe are mostly learned from other sinners. And that brings us right back to Ephesians 6:4 and the command to parents to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. For good or bad, children will learn more from their parents than anyone else during their formidable years. Parents need to think deeply about that.

So here are two passages from the Lord that describe the instrument of gossip and slander and I will reference them as we go. The first is about all people and the second was directed to Christians.

Romans 3 “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

James 3: So also, the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

What is gossip and slander?

Gossip is the sharing of rumors or unsubstantiated information about others and slander is the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation. You can see how these two acts are closely related because it is almost impossible not to slander someone when gossiping because people rarely get the story right as it is passed along. In other words, the details of the gossip may have been accurately shared when it was first shared, but becomes less and less accurate as the sharing continues, thus the propensity for slander.

What happens to the person that is the object of our gossip and slander?

Well, we actually have no idea how our words are going to land on other people who want to hear the gossip. Once we pass it on, it is completely out of our control, but one thing can’t be denied: we are taking part in the destruction of a person’s reputation. As Paul writes in Romans 3 about all of us, we have both the capacity and the bent toward creating ruin and misery. In addition, gossip and slander takes on a life of its own because there is typically ongoing speculation of what may be going on in the lives of those we gossip about. This leads to more gossip as we keep the updated information flowing and the forbidden sin of judging other’s motives.

Why do we do it?

The short answer is that we are sinners. Paul describes the instrument of these sins as an open grave. Think of the stench of a rotten corpse. Furthermore, he says that our lips are full of venom. James concurs when he says that our tongues are full of deadly poison and adds to it that our tongues are a fiery destructive force. This part of our body should demand a great deal of attention from us, but what health and beauty product or fitness routine can we buy to make this pretty?

What does the Lord think about it?

Exodus 20:16 is the ninth commandment. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. In fact, the Westminster Confession gives us not only the prohibition, but a positive action that supports obedience to the commandment. It says that we are required preserve and promote the truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor. Proverbs 10:18 says, The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Describing how the world will grow in wickedness as the last days come closer, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:3 that people will be heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. That is no description of the Christian! He wants us to only speak truth. Ephesians 4:25 says, Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

How do parents teach their children to gossip and slander?

Parents teach by modeling. From the child’s very first days until they are ready to leave home, they will learn how to interact with the world by simply being in the company of the parents. Unfortunately, children do not have the wisdom or discernment needed for them to reject mimicking their parents when the parent’s tongue is on fire or when they are saying poisonous words. They simply take it in and reproduce it in their own speech. Here are just a few ideas about where the modeling has taken place:

• When you are on the phone in your home, your car, or anywhere! The kids are listening to both the topic of your call, your commentary on the topic, and your tone.
• At the dinner table. Yes, going over the day’s events with the family is a good thing, but spending the time gossiping about other families is spilling poison on the table.
• Your choice of entertainment. Talk shows, game shows, or whatever show that you watch that is based on gossip, rumors, and slander. Are not the kids learning that it is fun to vicariously partake in the battle of deceiving tongues?
• Venting. Some people think venting is some sort of free pass to gossip, grumble, and complain about others because they have a right to blow off some steam. Not true.
• Talking to our friends about our spouse when we are frustrated. You are opening that grave.
• Talking to our kids about our spouse when we are frustrated. Even uglier.
• Social media posts that are based on rumors.
• Pumping our children for information about what is going on in the lives of other families.

What to do?

I am reminded of that hilarious video of Bob Newhart counseling a woman who had many phobias that she couldn’t shake, the greatest being afraid that she was going to be buried alive in a box (google Bob Newhart and stop it to find it on the web). After listening carefully to the woman for a couple of minutes, Newhart said that he had the solution for her, and it was only two words: STOP IT! If it were only that simple.

Even the lady in this comedic video knew that Newhart’s counsel did not address the core of the problem- her innermost thoughts rather than the phobias themselves. And so it is with us. We can address the problem by telling ourselves to stop talking about other people or stop being willing to listen to others who are sharing gossip. We can believe that we can systematize a way out such as snapping a rubber band every time we realize that we have gossiped, but the root of the problem is not addressed any more than a certain beauty cream solving your aging problem.

No, the problem cannot be solved by any human solution because it requires supernatural power to kill it, a power that only God has. To elaborate more fully on that is a topic for another article, but the short version is this: Every time you commit the sin of gossip or slander, go to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you. Even if you haven’t committed this particular sin on a given day, go to the Lord and ask Him to keep you from sinning that way. Based on His revealed will in the Bible, these two prayers are prayers that are in His will, and He will answer them in the affirmative over time. If you need additional motivation, remember that your sins against the God of your salvation is one thing, but to cause a little one to sin because of what you have taught them, is something much worse.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

So, May 1 marks eight months into starting this ministry that encourages parents and churches to place a greater focus on obeying no, even cherishing, the great commandment from Ephesians 6:4 which commands us to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

You may be wondering if I am running out of ideas for the articles that I write- don’t worry, I have made notes on about 150 additional articles that I have yet to get to! My weekly challenge is to decide which article to write, and I usually try to stick with a theme of some sort over a number of weeks. The recent articles have taken us through the Bible to find specific verses that God has given us about parenting. I have learned a lot through the process of searching the Bible and thinking deeply about what it means for parents, and I am more certain than ever that Christians need to be more mindful of the commandments and more diligent in the effort to honor God through their obedience.

However, another urgent matter also has become more manifest than before and it is the training of parents that must take place before they in turn, can teach their children the things of God. And this is really the root of the problem. In God’s plan for His people, the parents are to be holy, and as they are holy and wholly to the Lord, they teach their children God’s truth out of the abundance of Christ in their own hearts. This does not mean that a child taught poorly by his parents will not become a Christian or that a child with unbelieving parents will never become a Christian. No, God in His amazing mercy and grace does save children in their adult years despite them having nothing in the way of spiritual training. Praise God! But that is not the normal way that God works. He works as we have seen in the scriptures, generationally through parents as they teach their children.

So why do we not see more young people with a vibrant faith for the Lord? Well, part of it is weak Christian parenting from parents that have a weak faith. But part of it is from stronger Christian parents, well-meaning Christian parents, that love the Lord, but don’t realize that what they do in front of their children every day, is training their children to be ungodly. These ungodly things are not sins that will show up the next day, but later in life when the child who has been observing it for years, has the opportunity to put it into practice in their own adult life. If you doubt that this is true, just look at your parents and compare how they handle life with how you handle life. You will see many similarities that didn’t happen by change; they were learned.

Hence the theme for the next few articles: the observed behavior of the parents will likely become the adult behavior of the child. This week we will take a look at the arguing parents.

Do you argue with your spouse within earshot or view of the kids? Do they witness the back and forth volleys of words? Maybe you say, no I don’t argue, I just discuss with a slightly raised voice. I am here to tell you that any sternness in your voice or talking back and forth with a tone or level that is different from your normal speech is likely perceived by your child as yelling. And for those of you who are willing to admit that you are yelling at your spouse, I have heard it said, “the arguing doesn’t mean anything negative, it’s just the way we are.” It may be the way you are, but that is exactly the problem. Additionally, for those who say, “well, that’s just me,” accompanied by a smile that seemingly communicates that you have some sort of imbedded, immovable, acceptable trait, I say that you are denying that God has the power to bring change into your life. It’s time to break from this generational transfer of sinful actions!

So, let’s see what the Lord has to say about this behavior. There are so many scripture references that we could look at to get our instruction from the Lord, but we’ll have to limit it to just a few. Let’s start with Ephesians 4:17-32:

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

There is so much here that crushes any possibility that parents arguing is somehow acceptable to the Lord. We need to read it again so the conviction grips our hearts.

But then it gets worse. Let’s look at Jesus’ words in Matt. 5:21-26 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Here, Jesus equates anger with murder. Anger is not a literal murder, but the anger that arises in the hearts of two people arguing is the fruit of those who are engaged in a verbal beatdown. The words are the arrows we sling, and our volume magnifies their size and effect. This type of “discussion” is what you are modeling for your children and will likely be the way they deal with their spouse one day in the future. You have taught your child how to hate their spouse.

What is really happening here? Jesus tells us that it is out of the heart that our words proceed. So, if we follow that path, we will find that an angry heart is a heart that is prideful and ungracious. Prideful because we don’t want to lose the argument and ungracious because we usually don’t want to confess our anger and extend forgiveness to the other person.

When we find ourselves arguing in front of the children, what should we do?

1. Stop and regroup with your spouse in private. As a general parenting rule, never allow your children to see or hear that you disagree. Parents always have to put forth a united front in their parenting. Modeling that the parents are unified also has other benefits that will be discussed in a future article.
2. Confess your sin to your spouse and ask for forgiveness. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.
3. Confess your blunder to the kids. Is it good for them to know that their parents are sinners who need a Savior? Yes! Confessing your sin and asking forgiveness from your spouse is one of the greatest examples of the gospel in action. This also sets the stage for how you and your children ask for forgiveness from each other. Again, because our hearts are full of pride, asking for forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do, but it is also one of the most powerful.

And that raises just one more question about arguing. When you argue with your children (not your spouse) and realize that you are angry and have been yelling, do you ask forgiveness for your anger from your child? Or do you demand that your child ask forgiveness for their anger, yelling, and disobedience, and when they do, you grant forgiveness to them but say nothing of your own sin?

These are the everyday family situations where Christianity either becomes real and attractive to your children, or it is seen as hypocritical and ugly. This is part of raising your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

The article that I had planned to write this week had to be shelved to make way for the article that I had to write, prompted by an experience just yesterday. You see, I have been talking to a dear friend in another state who recently agreed to meet with me to discuss truth from the Bible. I was looking forward to the trip and texted him the details of the flight time and so on, when I received a text back from him saying, “I am not ready for that to happen.” Furthermore, he asked me to not ask what he meant by those words.

I honored his request and began to think deeply about what he may have meant. I may be completely off on this one, but it occurred to me that he might have a significant misunderstanding about what I might say or do in our meeting. But then I thought about the content of my weekly articles and the fact that I knew that he read or listened to each one every week and began to see the potential problem.

If you have been following CherishEphesians64, you know that I do not typically write fluffy articles that contain lots of pats on the back for how good everyone is. No, they are pretty much, “here’s what God says, you probably aren’t doing it, so stop the disobedience, now let’s get going with our obedience and enjoy the blessings.” I think that my dear friend may be reading my articles and thinking that he would have to do an instant behavioral transformation in his life if he decided to become a Christian.

For the Christian, the message that calls us to be like Christ can be a daunting thing; for the non-Christian, it is such an insurmountable task that it can easily lead to a decision that they, “are not ready for that to happen.” But this is not what God expects.

Let’s go back again to our recent place of study, the book of Deuteronomy. I didn’t want to get into this because it does not directly relate to the parental instructions for children that we were studying, but the end of the book takes us to a place that to me, is incredibly significant. Moses has been telling the people what God’s commands are and how they will be blessed if they obey or cursed if they disobey. And after all of that is laid out for the Israelites, there are four verses where God says, you (the Israelites) are not going to obey.

31:16 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake meand break my covenant that I have made with them.

31:20-21 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”

31:27 For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death!

31:29 For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”

These passages give us important information about God’s expectations for our behavior and what He had to do change our behavior and make us ready for heaven. You see, God sets a standard before us that communicates a way of life that is pleasing to Him and reflects His perfect holiness, but He knows we are going to fail.

Let’s jump to the New Testament for a minute to see the consistency of this truth. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4 that we should live holy lives, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:15-16 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.

But throughout the New Testament letters, we also have teaching upon teaching that the Christian must turn to the Lord for the strength to actually obey what the Lord has commanded. Even the great apostle Paul, a man of God who would exhort us to live holy lives, wrote that it was his inability to not covet the possessions of others that led him to admit he could not fully please God. He even admitted the frustration that every serious Christian experience in the daily battle against sinful desires. Look at Romans 7:15 where Paul says,

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

He goes on to say in verses 18-19, For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament God commanded that men obey Him, but He always knew that they could not meet His demands. They may say that they would do their best to obey, but even one act of disobedience over the course of their entire life, would mean that they did not meet the standard of holiness that God demanded, and therefore would be cursed. Paul writes in Galatians 4:10, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them.”

It should be noted that the greatest mistake that men make is that they can become good enough to make God happy, or that they can somehow outweigh all of the sinful thoughts and deeds that have been done in their life with some good deeds. However, this is just the opposite of what God says. He demands perfection and anything less earns hell forever.

Of course, our great God did not leave things there and if He did, it would be hopeless. In fact, going back to Romans 7 again, Paul gives us the answer in 7:25 where he says, Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

And that, “through Jesus Christ” is referring to the Son of God becoming a man and growing into adulthood so He could die on a cross and receive the punishment for the curse we were under, so we would not. Jesus’ sacrifice for Christians covers all the times we fail to meet God’s holy standard and gives us the power to gradually change our behavior and become more like Christ over time. In God’s eyes, an exchange takes place: Jesus gets the punishment, and we are viewed by God through the covering that we have from Jesus- perfectly holy. It is God’s amazing, gracious plan.

This is where trusting/believing in what God has done is everything to us! No ceremonies will do it. No priests or animal sacrifices. Just a sincere recognition that you need forgiveness, a belief in what the Savior has done, and the desire to give your life to Him in obedience.

For the Christian, admitting our daily failures and going to God in prayer is our daily lot. We stumble and fail to obey God as we should, but we see change over time that aligns us more with the mind and heart of God.

For someone like my non-Christian friend, it is critical to know these two things:

1. If you think becoming a Christian means that you can no longer make sinful mistakes, you are dead wrong. Christians continue to sin, albeit less so over time as God works in them. Yes, meeting God’s standard is like climbing a mountain that is higher than the clouds, but it is a mountain that can be scaled by God’s forgiveness and power.
2. If you are waiting to become a Christian until you get yourself living like a Christian, please know that it will never happen. No person that has ever become a Christian was good enough and I can promise you that you will not be the first. To be a Christian is to admit that your actions will never be good enough to satisfy God. You need someone else to fix that problem and His name is Jesus Christ.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

We have been studying the Biblical passages about God’s instructions to parents. We started with the command in Ephesians 6:4 (to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord) and worked our way back into the Old Testament where God gave His people greater specifics on the topic as well as numerous encouragements and warnings concerning the obedience of the parents. We might also keep the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20) front and center before us as Jesus tells His disciples to, “teach them to observe all that I have commanded.”

With all of those commands in mind, I want to begin to think about what those commands look like in our 21stcentury homes. In other words, the practical examples of how we work out obeying Ephesians 6:4 in our daily lives at home with the kids. This particular article is about obeying Ephesians 6:4 through teaching children Biblical stewardship and as I began to make some notes, I realized that most Christian parents will have a very difficult time teaching their children about stewardship because they are woefully remiss themselves. I don’t think I am going out on a limb here to say that the majority of Christian parents handle money and financial decisions in the same way that the non-Christian does.

I want to be quick to add that I lived my life the same way many years ago and experienced very painful times when my financial world came crumbling down, so I know of what I speak. As an aside, I am recording a new podcast called, “Choose Your Master. God or Money,” and I am hoping that that it will be a help in this important area of the Christian life. The Bible has much to say about pleasing Christ through obeying Biblical principles of stewardship, so I plead with you to implement these ten ideas that follow.

1. Your child is begging you to buy something in the store (store situation #1) and you can’t afford it. Tell them the truth- that you are purchasing only as much as God has provided for your family and it doesn’t meet the qualification of being a necessity.
2. Your child is begging you to buy something in the store (store situation #2) and you can afford it, but it is something (like just another stuffed animal) that is not a good use of the money that God has entrusted to you. You should tell them that you will one day give an account to God on how you spent His money (and so will they). Tell them that you have to spend on the things that God would approve. By the way, imagine if our credit cards got rejected on any purchase that God was not pleased with. Convicting!
3. Your child is begging you to buy something in the store (store situation #3) and you can afford to buy it. Teach them that they have to wait, even if you can afford it. This is an opportunity to teach both patience and contentment, both of which do not come naturally, but builds Christian character.
4. Teach them the value of comparison shopping. Yes, it takes time to get educated and compare, but this is what we do as good stewards of God’s money. You might want to take them by your local Goodwill store to show them that it isn’t always necessary to purchase things that are brand new.
5. Your child begins to compare the “stuff” that another family has to what your family has. This is the age old sin of coveting. Tell them that God has provided for your family the way He thinks is best and maybe one day, if God chooses to bless, you may have something similar to what the Jones’ have.
6. “We are not able to go on a vacation this year.” These words have been so difficult to say by some parents that they have chosen to not tell the truth to their kids and put the entire expense on a credit card anyway. This is another missed teaching opportunity for parents, and it allows the children to grow an entitlement mentality- one that does not work in reality and is not pleasing to God.
7. According to God’s word, work is good. Don’t let your kids hear you whining about your job. Instead, give thanks that God is providing thorough the job, no matter how difficult it may be. Had a good week? Received a bonus? Share that with the children and lead them in giving thanks to God.
8. Use three envelopes and label one giving, one savings, and one spending. Then, of each dollar that is earned or received in gifts by your child, place 10% in the giving envelope, 30% in the savings envelope and 60% in the spending envelope. If you stick with this discipline, you will have taught your child a wonderful habit that may last a lifetime. Don’t miss using the opportunity to give (probably to the church) and what the Bible says about giving.
9. Tell them about your family finances and tell them the truth about any sinful or unwise decisions you have made. What a tremendous opportunity for them to see the gospel in real life. Let them see your vulnerability, your humility before God, the forgiveness that you have in Christ, and your dependence on the Lord going forward.
10. Teach them a systematic savings plan. Typically, parents encourage a child to save so they can get something that they desire to have. This is an American way of thinking, but it is not God’s way. Create the plan with a goal of NOT saving just to get something material- that just trains them to be materialistic. An actual savings account of some kind will be helpful so they can see it grow, even if it is in small amounts.

These are just some of the incredible everyday teaching moments that God gives us as we work out our stewardship of His money and obey Ephesians 6:4. You have both the opportunity and the responsibility before God to teach these things to your children.

If you considered these ten points and realized that you are guilty of not doing these things yourself, it is time to confess and change your ways. Sadly, many of us try to satisfy our thirst for happiness by buying things for ourselves or spending money on all kinds of entertainment or experiences. It is like digging cisterns that will never give the true water that we need. We can only find our thirst assuaged and our desires transformed by living each moment in the presence of Christ.

If you find yourself having to chase peace and happiness in all the wrong places, stop today and call out to Christ. God is gracious if you will but call on Him for help.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Continuing our search for parenting instructions, we return to Deuteronomy. I’m going to put aside chapter 7 for a moment and come back to it after we survey the remainder of the book. Essentially, God continues to repeat Himself in chapter 8 and all the way through chapter 32. We have talked about God repeating His commands and instructions in past articles and it demands me repeating the observation of such once again. We need to be clear that God does not have a “repetition problem.” He did not forget something that He has already said, nor did the God of perfection make any mistake. He knows our frame and therefore, He knows that we NEED to hear it again and again. Frankly, I did not expect this to land on me as it has, but it has especially because of His repetition.

For the record, His commands regarding children are repeated in 11:18-21 (frontlets and phylacteries, etc.), 31:13 (let the children hear the law be read), and in 32:46 after the song of Moses and just before his final blessing on Israel (that you may command all the words that Moses gave to the Israelites to their children). Then, with Joshua leading the Israelites, we see the priority of raising children to know God in Joshua 4:6, 4:21-22, specifically so they will be prepared to answer their children’s questions when they come.

Now that we have covered the incredible commands about parenting that we have found in the writings of Moses, we would travel next to the book of Proverbs which is loaded with wisdom for parenting and at least two of the Psalms (78 and 145) that have a backward look at what God had commanded in Deuteronomy. But for now, I want to go back to Deuteronomy 7:6-11 to drill into something that hit me in a deeper way. The passage says:

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.

The benefits of studying and thinking deeply about God’s word are so important for the Christian. I have read that Christians belong to the Lord, but seeing how God spoke to the Israelites has actually caused that truth to land on me in a more significant way. Just one verse, verse 6, made me realize that God has a view of His people that is profoundly personal for Him. Without any compulsion or need motivating Him from outside of Himself, He has rightly made a claim on a particular people. The scripture says that these people are holy to the Lord and in this context, the word holy means separated out from everyone else. We see this idea in the New Testament as well in Romans 12:1-2 when the Bible says, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And again in Colossians 3:12, we see this language of God setting His people apart and referring to them using almost the same words that He used in Deuteronomy 7: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, etc. God has made a unilateral decision to choose these people and He describes them as His treasure. We are not part of making that happen- it is done solely by Him. Think about it- did the God of the universe, the God that has no needs, the God who knows that the greatest thing of value in all creation from eternity past to eternity future is God, actually said that these people are His treasured possession? It is an amazing statement, and it signifies a level of love and commitment that you and I cannot fathom… but we should make an incredible effort to understand.

In the book of Ephesians, we get additional insight into the mind of God. In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul writes, Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. And in verses 31 and 32, he says, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

The fact that Christ gave Himself up for Christians and that God views believers and Christ as one flesh illustrates both the greatest love and the greatest unity that we could ever imagine in a relationship. It happens because God is showing us that we are His treasured possession.

And what is expected in this marriage like relationship? Well, the context of Deuteronomy 7 is that God would not have His people be exposed to the idols of the world that they were going in to conquer. They were commanded to destroy pretty much everything in their path and to not intermarry with the other nations because they would be ensnared by their idols. As you know if you have been following past articles, idolatry is God’s greatest concern for His people. He has an absolute hatred for idolatry and when His people fall into that sin, it is as if His treasured possession has cheated on Him in marriage. In Exodus 34:14-16, He refers to Himself as a jealous God and those who cheat on Him are whoring after other gods. Incredibly strong words. We are holy to Him. That is, He has separated us for a special relationship with Him and no other.

So now we arrive at the next type of holiness, and I will ask the question with the word spelled a little differently: are you holy to the Lord or wholly to the Lord?

Here is what Paul writes to the church at Colossae in 1:21-22: And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holyand blameless and above reproach before him. In this context, Paul is not asking them to be separate because that has already been done by the Lord, but he is telling them that they should be striving to lead lives that are no longer like their previous evil lives, but lives that reflect their obedience and love for Christ.

In a similar way, Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:13-16: Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also beholy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Here Peter is telling them that because God is sinless, the believers should throw off the sinful passions of the life they had when they were ignorant of the gospel.

In both cases and in many others throughout the New Testament letters to the churches, the call is to lead lives that are wholly dedicated to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul writes, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3)

Getting back to the question, are you holy to the Lord or wholly to the Lord?, the answer for every believer should be, both! We see that we are holy because God has set us apart, but we live out that holy, set apart by God life by wholly obeying Him in every part of our life.

I believe that I have seen only the lowest level of the massive mountain that is called God’s love for His people. I was His enemy and now I am His treasured possession. He has chosen me and all of that has been made possible because He was willing to send His greatest store of wealth, that is Christ, to pay the sin ransom that I could never pay. His kindness has led me to daily repentance. May this holy creature be ever more wholly for Him.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Let’s begin to get the context of today’s article by reading the next passage about parenting children.

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, we were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers`. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’

If you have been endeavoring to obey God’s commands in parenting, you will have been teaching and talking about the Lord for many, many years. It is likely that your son or daughter has been listening to you and storing up knowledge without actually understanding the implications of all of the truth that you have faithfully put forth. They have not asked any of the “big questions” that challenge your beliefs. But know this: there will come a time when your child begins to truly think about what you have been saying and will question what it means for him. Inevitably, your child will be evaluating worldviews and make no mistake- he will have a worldview.

This process of learning and developmental thinking is God’s way for parenting children and has a simple analogy in the New Testament as well as one particular educational system that can be found in our modern world. The New Testament gives us the analogy of planting, watering, and waiting for growth. This way of thinking about spiritual growth is put forth by Paul when he writes 1 Corinthians 3:5-8, What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Similarly, parents “plant” the truth into their children’s minds for many years, continue to “water” or teach and reteach Biblical truth, and then pray for God to “bring the growth” by mercifully calling the children to Himself.

This intentional three-phase development can also be seen in today’s Classical model of education, called the Trivium. The first stage, called the grammar stage, is for the inputting of information, much of which can be characterized as memorization. The second stage, called the dialectic, is the time for asking and answering questions that have begun to formulate in the child’s mind. And the third stage is called rhetoric, where the information that has been learned and the thoughts that have been processed now become the basis for a person’s point of view. In essence, it is that person’s worldview and it will be the worldview that will be passed on to the next generation.

This is the same pattern that God gives His people for godly parenting. They are to teach their young children, maybe ages 2-10, all that God has done (grammar stage). Then they are to wait for the moment when the child questions why we do this (dialectic stage). That moment typically comes in the age group of 11-15. And finally, parents are to continue in their teaching by not only giving the answers to the questions, but by constantly shaping their worldview so the child is ready to leave the home and face the onslaughts of worldly thinking. Additionally, God wants them to go through the same process with their own kids. Peter would call that last stage of learning the ability to, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). Paul would tell Timothy, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

But this passage is not about the child. Typically, children will do what the parents tell them to do in their earliest years and believe what their parents tell them to believe. The main focus here in Deuteronomy 6:20-25 is what the parents are to do when the adolescent child starts to ask the big questions. “Mom and dad, now why do we do this? Why do we believe this? How do I know that this is not just a story? Why should this be the foundation for how I will run my life?”

Actually, these verses are about the parents. If they have been obedient to the Lord’s earlier commands in chapter 6, they have been waiting for many years for the child to ask these questions about the faith. You can be sure that they will ask someone about the questions that are formulating in their mind and if you are not careful, they will get their answers from their peers or some unknown person through social media or another online platform. So, in that defining moment when the big and important questions arise in the mind of your child, I have a handful of questions that I would ask you to seriously consider:

1. Will you be available, or will your child know that your time is almost exclusively for your occupation (read workaholic) or your personal “me” time? If they have to fight to get a little time with you, they will almost surely find someone who has the time for them, and you will miss the opportunity.
2. Will you be credible? In other words, will all that you have been saying that you believe actually be seen in your life? Will it be plain to your children that your life is filled with the idols of the world? Will it be so easy for Satan to whisper into your kid’s ear, “they are just hypocrites?”
3. Will they ask you because they know you care about them? It is often said that a person won’t listen to another person unless they know first that that person cares about them. Have you lovingly taught them and listened to them over the years?
4. Will they ask because they deem you to be knowledgeable? And when I say knowledgeable, I don’t just mean the Bible, but how the Bible applies to all of life.
5. Will they ask because they know you won’t have a violent reaction? Some parents panic when their children ask questions about the faith. They seem to think that children should grow up and simply accept everything that they have been told to believe for many years. This is not the way human development works. The time for children to question things that have been taught or assumed to be true is a not a problem; it is a great opportunity to turn information into convictions (by God’s grace) that will last a lifetime and for all eternity.
6. Will they ask knowing you have been excited and passionate about these things because they have seen it in your daily life all of their lifetime? And when I say, “these things”, I am not talking about a person who is generally happy and upbeat because they have a positive view of life. I am talking about a person who makes their joy visible daily because they verbalize their absolute dependance and joy in their relationship with Christ.

In a nutshell, your relationship will be the key, and the quality of that relationship will be the fruit of what you have been doing since they were infants. Parents with children being born now must implement God’s plan NOW. Diligent teaching from the earliest days will establish habits and will deter your heart from creating time sucking idols over the next number of years that will prove hard to tear down later. Planning to “show up” for this defining moment of questioning in their lives at the last minute without years of investment will probably not work. Don’t think you can turn it on when he or she turns 13 years old.

I wish I could say that I did all of these things that I am writing about, but I didn’t. Probably my greatest failure was my ungodly commitment to my work, even though it was in ministry. This hurt my entire family. However, God is gracious. It is possible that He may choose to restore the years that have been lost to many other things while the faithful raising of children God’s way was neglected. Also, children can be softhearted when they see their parents confessing their failures and making efforts to be the parents that God calls them to be.

But remember, Paul’s words in Romans 6- What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? In other words, if God has been gracious to you in your family despite years of not doing things God’s way, don’t think that you can continue as you have before. Today is the day for change. Don’t wait one more day.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Please Click Above To ListenBefore moving to examine the next verses that God commands parents in their parenting of children, let’s read the verses.

Deuteronomy 6:10-19 And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has promised.

Well, we didn’t get very far on the parenting specific verses before God is pausing to proclaim a message that He has already said numerous times. Why does God continue to put an absolute priority on these things? The obvious answer is that we need to hear it.

In verses 10-12, the Israelites are told to not forget what God has done after they have achieved so much in the new land. Yes, that is what WE do as well. When things are going bad, we cry out to the Lord begging for His mercies and when He is blessing us, we forget to give the continuous and passionate thanks and praise that He deserves. And, we even have the nerve to reflect on what has happened and silently congratulate ourselves for the part that we may have had in the achievement, effectively putting us on the altar of worship. Thanklessness is a terrible sin and is the mark of an unregenerate person (Romans 1:21).

That said, The Lord follows in verse 13 with the command to fear Him! Yes, fear is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom and without that proper fear, we may foolishly behave as if God doesn’t see what we are doing.

Next comes verse 14 with yet another warning against idolatry. Again? Yes, again. You see, it is impossible to follow God’s commands about parenting children and be an idolater at the same time. We cannot teach the kids what we don’t know or functionally believe ourselves. Flipping back over to the New Testament again, Paul uses the Old Testament to instruct the New Testament believer in the Corinthian church:

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:1-14)

Heading back to Deuteronomy 6, verses 15-18 are more of the previous commands and warnings: do and obey, so positively speaking it will go well with you, or negatively speaking, you will be destroyed off the face of the earth. This kind of language from almighty God should be enough to instill a holy and reverent fear, but does it? We will find later that it did not take in almost every man at that time. What about us? Do you believe that God brings consequences into your life for your disobedience? Do you fear God in such a way that it prevents you from sinning? If not, why not?

Finally, we need to think about verse 19. God promised to thrust out all of their enemies, but it wasn’t going to happen without them fighting the battles. Likewise, God would bring blessings to their children, but it wasn’t going to happen without the hard work of parenting- diligent teaching. In a similar way, we must slay the dragons of sin and idolatry in our lives. As Paul writes, we must work out our salvation (our Christian walk with the Lord) with fear and trembling, as God works in us (Philippians 2:12).

So, here is the big question: Why is idolatry and loving the world so hard to kill? I think it’s because “love is blind.” You’ve seen it before, and you may have even been the person I am describing here. It’s like that teenage girl that is dating the, “bad boy.” Parents and friends warn the girl again and again that the guy has significant character faults, and the relationship is going to bring pain. But she can’t see it. In fact, the more the accusations are brought against him, the more entrenched she gets in denial. The facts are plain to see, but she can’t see them because she refuses to see them. She prefers blindness rather than give up the idol of her heart. She may even agree that some of his alleged faults are true and that she is experiencing some pain in the relationship as a result of them, but she follows that agreement with a reason why he is not at fault or that the problems are temporary. Eventually, marriage follows and so does the divorce, and the pain of it all finally allows her sight to return albeit, way too late.

We love our idols and will think of various ways to justify keeping them. We cling to them because we know what they are and what they can do for us. We can see and touch and feel them. We can even control them and they never ask us to fight sin. Often, when we get a glimpse of our idols and begin to come under conviction, we pull the blinders down over our eyes and put off the truth for another day. Sometimes someone will confront us over our idol and our pride- ridden response is to dismiss them as judgmental, self-righteous, or extreme.

For my daily battle with idolatry, I ask myself five simple questions about the time I am spending on something or how I think about it. The questions help me hold everything up to the bright light of scripture and if the answer is “no’ to any of these questions, I have an opportunity to confess and repent.

1. Does what I am doing with this particular thing please God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
2. If Jesus Christ was visibly standing next to me, would I be doing this?
3. Does what I am doing make me more like Christ? (Romans 8:29)
4. Does what I am doing or thinking fit with the command to seek first His kingdom and contribute in some way to the furtherance of the Great Commission? (Matthew 6:33; 28:19-20)
5. Does it use the time that God has given me in ways that bring glory to Him? (Psalm 90:10-12)

Alert! Critical thought following here: And when you have girded up your loins to complete this exercise, apply the same questions to what you are teaching or allowing into the lives of your children.

Writing in his book, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices,” Thomas Brooks says that it is harder for a man to repent than it is to create the world. That’s how fallen we are. But Romans 2:4 and Romans 11:22 tells us that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. So, I’ll end with an excerpt from Alistair Begg’s modernization of Spurgeon’s devotion on Ephesians 3:19 and I invite you to pray along with me, that God will blow away the scales of my eyes so I will not only see my idols, but give me the strength to destroy them.

Ephesian 3:19 The Love That Surpasses Knowledge

The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fullness, its greatness, its faithfulness passes all human comprehension. Where can we find the words to describe His matchless, His unparalleled love toward the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow simply skims the water without diving into its depths, so all descriptive words merely touch the surface, while immeasurable depths lie below. Well might the poet say, O love, thou fathomless abyss!

For this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; no one can fully comprehend it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand His previous glory in its height of majesty, and His incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When He was enthroned in the highest heavens He was very God of very God. By Him the heavens were made, and all its inhabitants. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded Him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe flowed without ceasing to the foot of his throne. He reigned supreme above all His creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell His height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low He descended? To be a man was something; to be a man of sorrows was far more. To bleed and die and suffer—these were much for Him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony—to endure a death of shame and desertion by His Father—this is a depth of condescending love that the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! And truly it is love that “surpasses knowledge.” O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude and lead us to practical demonstrations of its power.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

LISTEN TO THE ARTICLE BY USING PLAYER ABOVE OR FOLLOWING THE PODCAST “CHERISH EPHESIANS 6:4” ON APPLE PODCASTI want to go back to the verses that we looked at last week and bring up a few points that will hopefully guard us against falling into the idea that what God was commanding was good for the Jews only. This is easy to do because we may not think deeply enough to make application for today’s Christian parents.

As a reminder, listen to Deuteronomy 6:6-10 one more time: And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

So in the last article, I wrote about the modern day equivalents of boxes of scripture hanging from our heads or hands such as our Bibles and various signs that many Christians decorate their homes (or even cars) with. I want to be clear that I personally love to see these reminders in my home, especially the one framed poster that we have that has the many names for Jesus in the Bible. But my concern is that having the signs in our home without the conversations that God expects to take place in our home is not enough.

You have heard the oft used joke that just because you are in McDonalds, it doesn’t make you a hamburger. Well, in the same way, just because you decorate your home with scripture, it doesn’t mean that your home is a Christian one in the way that God demands. We can fill our homes with signs, ornaments, Bibles, or great Christian books. We can effectively mark off our home for God using all of these things, treating it like some special sacrament of grace, but it will not satisfy God’s requirement for Christian parents.

Christian parents must teach their children about God on an ongoing basis and make Him a natural part of the family’s daily conversation. And don’t be fooled- training is taking place all the time. If parents line the walls of their homes with reminders of Christ yet rarely talk about Him, the child is taught that the reminders mean little, and the parent’s Christianity is a lightweight Christianity that lacks the seriousness that true Christianity requires. In fact, placing the name of God on a wall decoration without the concurrent discussions about the Lord is just a violation of the third commandment to not take His name in vain. Am I being a little extreme? Is God being extreme? As Paul would say, “may it never be!” No, I just think that we have all gotten so used to saying God’s name in almost any context, that we have become insensitive to His awesome holiness.

So, I hope you can see that before we can be used by God to shape and mold our children, we have to change. We have to develop a mindset that has us making references to God all the time like He is in the room because, guess what? He is in the room. This needs to be from our hearts with sincerity, embracing the fact that we are walking with God all day, every day. Our kids need to see that we aren’t just talkin’ the talk without walkin’ the walk.

So then, how do we make this very important command to parents real in our homes? Well, my kids are grown and out of the home, so I had to think back and reflect on our own experiences and sadly, I will confess that we often fell short of the mark. One of the sinful things (I’m not going to confess them all!) that we did was how we talked about the sermon or church members after we left church on Sundays.

Thankfully, we did talk about the content of the sermon with them and tried to draw out discussion around one or two of the main points. This was the good part. The bad part was allowing our children to overhear my wife and I critiquing the sermon in a negative way. There were always opportunities to talk about others in the congregation in godly ways, but we probably flushed that good parenting with talking negatively about other church members. And the horrifying thought here is that we were training our children how to think through it all.

How else can you habitually talk about the Lord as a natural part of the family’s life? Here are a few ideas:

Church related

• Have regular discussions about Sunday school or midweek youth group meetings. What did you learn? What does that mean for you?
• Review points that were made in the sermon in the car on the way home from church. How much was understood; what does it mean for you?

At Home

• Discuss how God is informing changes in the home such as a decision to move, changing jobs, change schools.
• End of the day dinner review. What happened today in your life?
• Family devotions. Tremendous time to talk about God and everything!
• After movies or other media. Should we have seen or heard that? Why or why not? Who is the hero? What was the underlying message of the movie?
• Prayers before bedtime. A great time for thanksgiving, praise, and requests.

Events

• Look to review interactions that your children had after every birthday party or event. Were there things that happened that God was pleased with? Not pleased with?
• Driving home and discussing things that happened after family gatherings.
• Resurrection Sunday and Christmas. Great opportunities to talk about the horror of sin, God’s gracious plan of salvation as well as the loves that the world has in contrast to these holidays.
• What happened at school today? This is a huge opportunity that cannot be neglected especially if your child attends a non-Christian school of any kind. The constant bombardment of worldly thinking on the child’s heart must be confronted daily.

By the way, I will soon be publishing a new podcast on education to help parents think deeply about the effects of a non-Christian school on children and the Biblical reasons for Christian homeschooling or enrolling your child in a Christian day school.

Christian parents have much to think about! See you next time.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

LISTEN TO THE ARTICLE BY USING PLAYER ABOVE OR FOLLOWING THE PODCAST “CHERISH EPHESIANS 6:4” ON APPLE PODCASTLet’s remind ourselves why we are back in the Old Testament looking for instructions on how to raise children. First, the Old Testament God is the New Testament God. He is the never changing God, and His perfect wisdom is throughout the Bible. Second, we get little direct instruction in the New Testament, but we receive more than ample instruction in the Old Testament, and third, the New Testament writers both believed in the Old Testament and said it was written for our instruction. Personally, I find in some cases, the Old Testament is a clarifying witness to God’s dealings with His children and the clear commands regarding children make my point.

So, if we think about what we have read in the first several chapters of Deuteronomy, we get the picture of a gracious restart for the Jewish nation. We are on the precipice of finally being allowed to enter the promised land and God has Moses recount the history of God bringing them out of Egypt, the following years of rebellion and idolatry, and God’s longsuffering display of His love and faithfulness. Like the perfect presenter of an airtight argument, He lays out the case for their future obedience and subsequent consequences for obedience or disobedience.

And here is where we need to pause and truly see not only the character and heart of our God, but the fact that He had Moses write these things not just for the first group of people that He called His own, but for the next group of people, called Christians, that He also calls His own. So when Moses says the famously known words, “Hear, O Israel,” and begins laying down the very basics of living from the great, “I AM,” we need to remember that Jesus declared that He was that same “I AM.” The words that will follow will be the critical fundamentals for raising children in a fallen world and if we use some modern day vernacular, these instructions are the “first things of parenting.” If we don’t get these things right, our other efforts to raise Jesus loving children will almost certainly fail. With that in mind, we move to Deuteronomy 6:4.

Verse 4. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

Where else in the Bible do we find this? In the New Testament where none other than God incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, speaks in Mark 12:29-30. Jesus answered, “The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Matthew Henry says this: “That there is only one true God. The firm belief of this self-evident truth would effectually arm them against all idolatry.” Yes, I think Matthew Henry is making a profound point. As we listen carefully to what God is telling us, we will see that He is doing all He can to lead us not into the tempting sin that is an abomination to Him- idolatry.

Verse 5. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Prior to this we have had history and we have had warnings. We have been told that it is necessary that the people fear God. But now the first, shall we say action command, is to love God with every part of our being. Think about it- this is the first commandment given before everything else and if a person strived to do this one commandment, he would be insulated from all of the other pitfalls in the world. This one commandment is the opposite of idolatry. And going forward, we will see that all of the other commandments that follow regarding children are designed to insulate them from the great sin of idolatry also. Another good point from Matthew Henry: “Fear hems us in to obey, but love leads us to obey with a happy heart, a devoted (unshared) heart, and desirous heart to obey. By the way, this is how we want our children to obey us as parents!”

Verse 6. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

What does that mean? It means that God does not want an empty formal obedience. It means that He wants you to know His words so well that they are woven into your very being. Why? Because we know the word of God sanctifies the soul and informs a person’s thinking. He wants His words on your heart because that is the seat of your affections and desires and will cause you to love Him with everything in you. And this isn’t a selfish, needy God that demands these things for His good; this is a loving, sustaining, providing, healing God Who wants these things so we can experience joy and an everlasting relationship in a beautiful country (heaven) that we cannot even get our minds around.

So, hear Oh Christians! These are the things that God is commanding to the parents who are listening. They are to remember God’s greatness, to fear Him, to obey Him, to not go after idols and to love Him only, with every fiber of their being. What about the kids? Well, there is no point in talking about raising godly children if the parents are unfaithful. In other words, these things must be true of us as parents before we can model and teach them to our children. We cannot teach them to love God and not the world if we are idolaters. You can’t share what you don’t have! More on that to come.

Verse 7a. You shall teach them diligently to your children.

Note how quickly God transitions from commanding the adults to commanding truths about parenting. Parenting children is incredibly important to God! Parents must take their knowledge, love, and obedience to God and diligently teach those same things to their children. Why did He choose the word diligence? Because He intends for parenting to be a hardworking, industrious, meticulous, conscientious, attentive, persistent job! That is going to require some things from parents that they will be reluctant to give up, but that’s for another article.

Verse 7b-9 And shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

I‘m going to take these three verses as a command from the Lord with one purpose in His mind. He has just told parents that they are to love Him and obey Him and keep His words on their hearts, and now He intends to use the parents as the means for doing the same with their children.

Thinking about application to us today, we must remember that there were no Bibles in the homes of the parents, not even a copy of the first five books of today’s Bible. Memorization of the scriptures were the key to having God’s word in your heart. Therefore, having select scriptures written down and kept before them would be helpful. I think there is also something interesting about where they were supposed to be. Binding small boxes with Holy scripture to hang near their hands and eyes would create a visual reminder to think about God wherever they look and whenever they try to do anything with their hands. In theory, a person couldn’t do anything without being reminded of God.

But to focus on the outward sign without thinking about what it represents would be a mistake. The context of the command to use these boxes of scripture is that parents would have ongoing, all day, nonstop discussions about the Lord with the goal that God’s words would be on their hearts as it is with the parents. God wants parents to build a framework or foundation of truth upon which ever increasing amounts of truth will be layered, resulting in a stronghold for God in the heart. We are talking about staking out mindspace for God, resulting in an intellectual and spiritual grid that will filter every bit of data experienced in the world we live in. So, the boxes are an aid and reminder of the conversations and teaching that parents are to have with the children, not the main tool for successful parenting. Now, in order to fulfill this commandment, the magnitude of energy and time required from the parents would be huge. It seems like it would actually require more time and energy from the parents than anything else. Hear O Israel; Hear O Christians!

Regarding the boxes of scripture as well as the signs on the doorposts and gates, most Christians have these kinds of visuals around their home today and have no need of frontlets or phylacteries. We also have copies of the complete word of God throughout our homes, garages, and cars. Of course, we also wear crosses and t-shirts that can remind of us of Jesus or send messages to others. But these things are of no effect if we give little of ourselves to actually talking about Jesus. I doubt any person has ever been saved or any child raised to love God because their mom wore crosses as pierced earrings or their dad wore a t-shirt that said, “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.”

In regard to verses 7-9, there is more to think about, but we will have to do that in the next article. Lord willing, I will see you then.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

LISTEN TO THE ARTICLE BY USING PLAYER ABOVE OR FOLLOWING THE PODCAST “CHERISH EPHESIANS 6:4” ON APPLE PODCASTI need to mention two things before we move forward. First, I have to say that that America is not the new Israel. I say that because many Christians view America as God’s chosen people, similar to His chosen people of the Old Testament, the Israelites. Yes, America was founded primarily on a Judeo-Christian worldview and yes, our country has been incredibly blessed by God but no, there is no Biblical revelation that God has chosen any particular nation other than the Jews, who were chosen in a special way, at a special time for God’s purposes.

However, we can acknowledge a Biblical pattern. That is to say that in both the case of Israel and America, fallen men were blessed with the knowledge of God, but rather than obey God’s commandments, they fell into times of obedience and disobedience and were chastised accordingly. I also mention this because it is easy to make the mistake of assimilating everything in the Old Testament into New Testament thinking, as well as make the mistake of completely dismissing the Old Testament because we have the New Testament.

This is an important point to settle as we look at God’s commandments in the Old Testament relative to raising children. Are there commandments in the Old Testament that we should not pay attention to as New Testament believers? Yes, there are. We know that all commandments related to the priesthood and the various sacrifices commanded for the forgiveness of sins are no longer observed because all have been fulfilled in Jesus. There is little debate about this among orthodox Christian theologians and you can read the book of Hebrews to confirm this. There are many other commandments that were given to the Jews that some theologians believe are still valid for Christians while others do not. Those arguments will undoubtedly continue. However, we know that the Ten Commandments are still valid as they are the moral code, although there is some discussion around the fourth commandment.

But, when it comes to personal holiness and growth in grace, I believe there is no disagreement that the teaching of the Old Testament is not only applicable to New Testament believers but is reinforced by the New Testament teaching. So, when we see Joseph flee from the wiles of Potiphar’s wife, we have nothing but reiteration when Paul writes to the Corinthians, “ Flee from sexual immorality.” I am laboring to write about this because we are about to hear from God how He commanded the Israelites regarding their children, and we need to know that those commandments are also for us.

The second thing that I need to say is that you are about to hear a lot of repetition from God, and you are going to have one of two responses to that repetition. After hearing the same thing several times, you will either be more convicted than ever about your sin, or you will be bored. Those who are convicted will realize that God has a perfectly wise and holy purpose in the repetition. Repetition means at least two things: one, the commandment is extraordinarily important to Him and two, He needs us to hear it for our good and His glory. No one will be able to claim ignorance on the day of judgement!

To those who are bored or are rolling your eyes in your mind and saying, “blah, blah, blah,” may the Lord give you the grace to see that the very commandment you are making light of is certainly the one that you are failing miserably to keep. With that “head’s up” given, let’s get into the precious word of God.

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

There are several golden nuggets to hold in our minds and hearts, each one of them massive in importance.

That you may fear the Lord. Fearing the Lord is another one of those precepts that we will see repeated again and again throughout the entire Bible. We have already seen it in the previous chapter (Deut. 5:29) and we will not get past the commands and statutes that are in the book of Deuteronomy before we hear it again in 10:12, 10:20, and 13:4. Why? Well, if you take a survey of the term used throughout the Bible, it most often describes the hinge on which a person or nation swings to obedience or disobedience. It is the essential indicator of the entire character of a man. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that a man cannot even understand God and the world he lives in unless he first fears God and therefore, does not have the power or sense to obey God.

Reading and listening to what God is telling us here has been helpful to me. I have asked myself if I have a fear of the Lord that is commensurate with His worth and I have once again, come up far short of the mark. Repentance is a good thing.

Jesus said this: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).” Someone might object to obeying God out of fear. They might say, “shouldn’t we obey because we love Him?” Yes. Or “shouldn’t we obey because we are grateful for what He has done for us? Yes. Or “shouldn’t we obey because of the joy of heaven set before us?” Yes. Yes, to obeying God for all of those reasons, but not apart from what God Himself is telling us throughout His word- not without fear. There will be no obedience to Him without fear of Him. This led to the undoing of the Israelites in their time, and I believe is leading to the undoing of the church in America today.

One more word on God’s call to fear Him. Imagine the Israelites referring to God using the words of many professing Christians today as, “the man upstairs” or when they prayed, they began with, “Hey God.” Of course, the Israelites revered the name of God so much that they wouldn’t even say His name aloud for fear of violating the commandment to not take His name in vain. We have fallen a long way, haven’t we?

You and your son and your son’s son. We have heard this before (4:9) and the Lord is coming back to say that we are to not only teach these things to your son, but He also has the next generation in mind as well. This is how we should be thinking. The implications of teaching your children will have a direct effect on what he will teach his children when he is married and out of your household. And what about grandparents? Is there an opportunity for grandparents to appropriately be concerned for and involved in the raising of their grandchildren? Yes! They have stories to tell about their life with God and all of the pitfalls of life on this earth.

That your days may be long. Another repeat for us to heed as we heard God says this earlier in 4:40. And here, He also says to keep His commandments that it may go well with you. These four “that” phrases are not only a kind of blessing that you forfeit if you don’t keep the commandments, but rather carry the inference that if you do not keep the commandments, it will NOT go well with you. It is always blessings or curses with the Lord – no neutral ground, no coasting, no life without consequences. We need to realize that the alternative life to obedience is not nothing, it’s a bad life.

That you will multiply greatly. Here is something that many American Christians give so little regard. Of all of the things that The Lord does for us besides salvation, giving us children is probably His greatest gift. We need to ponder this. God has given man the ability to participate in creation. It is an astonishing privilege. A baby is a creature that has all of the amazing parts that will enable him to live in this world- the complexity of eyes, the ever evolving immune system to fight all kinds of disease, the ability of cells to heal and grow, a digestive system that will house and use billions of bacteria in the gut to aid the digestion of foods, the five senses that allow us to experience the wonders of the world, and a brain that no technological creation of the world will ever be able to duplicate. In addition to thinking about the body of a new human being, the more amazing thing is that a newborn child has been created with a soul!

So here, the Lord is promising the greatest blessing the Israelites (and us) could possibly receive, and with that comes the privilege and responsibility of shaping them through godly instruction. This is something that we need to understand and react to: Apart from the work of Christ to save unworthy sinners, God has given us the privilege and ability to imitate and reflect Him in the creation of children and the teaching of children. What kind of a God is this? Surely, He is a gracious and loving God and Father.

Now we have been through just the first three verses of chapter six and the takeaways are clear: Our God is a God who is greater than we can comprehend, and that greatness demands our highest degree of reverent fear and the deepest desire to obey Him. To do so is the only reasonable response. And in His awesomeness, He overflows with grace and mercy that shows up in His plan for us and our children. To do anything else other than cherishing His commands is insanity. But then again, we are broken, aren’t we? But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

LISTEN TO THE ARTICLE BY USING PLAYER ABOVE OR FOLLOWING THE PODCAST “CHERISH EPHESIANS 6:4” ON APPLE PODCASTI want to get to the Bible’s teaching on parenting children, I really do. But, as I was reading the Bible this week, I just couldn’t get away from the importance of recognizing the context in which the commandments were given. And it is meaningful to remember that God Himself, through the inspiration of the writers of the scriptures, has a perfectly wise roadmap that He intends to use to glorify Himself and impress our hearts. He is clearly intentional in the order of His words and in the emphasis on particular truths.

I’m here to tell you that I have been incredibly impressed by re-reading the book of Deuteronomy as a prelude to studying the commandments for parents therein. But “impressed” is not the right word. The word is convicted. I am convicted and ashamed that my God is but a miniature version of the true God of the Bible. Don’t get me wrong- my God is big and awesome, but the true God of the Bible can only be adequately described in words that do not exist.

So, please join me in thinking deeply about God’s word as I take a very brief look at the first few chapters of Deuteronomy in bullet form. This is a kind of restart for the Israelites. They have been waiting for the Lord to give them a second opportunity to go into the Promised Land and before they cross that river, Moses is going to lead them in a condensed review of history and the law of God.

It is extremely important to look back to see what God has done before they move forward, and that exercise is no less beneficial for God’s people today. In Deuteronomy 1:10, Moses begins by stating that God had promised Abraham to multiply his offspring like the stars of heaven and here it is stated that God has done just that. Can we even begin to get our minds around that achievement? Can we think about all that God had providentially done to make that happen, that God was sovereign over marriages that had to take place, children that had to be raised healthy to adulthood, more marriages had to take place, and every intimate moment of conception within those marriages, over generations? If this is all God ever did, it would be enough to make us bow down and worship!

Moving on to verses 26-39, we have to ask- how holy is our God? He is holy, holy, holy. He had shown His greatness to the Hebrews and yet they refused to believe and obey Him by not going into the Promised Land. In His righteous anger, God decides that every man except two (Caleb and Joshua) that had not trusted God, will die in the wilderness over the next 40 years. It will, in fact, be the deaths of 602,000 men. Sadly, this prohibition also included Moses, the great leader of the people. Moses will not be permitted to enter the Promised Land because of a display of sinful anger and disobedience before the people. But even in this moment, God shows His undeserving grace by stating that although the men will not inherit the land, their children and little ones will.

In 2:7, God reminds them again that He has blessed them and been with them all the years and in 3:22, God restates that He will fight for them once again, right after He gives them victories over two regional Kings. He does this because He knows our frame and how weak our faith can be. Therefore, He shows them His power and faithfulness in order to bolster their confidence before they cross the river. What a gracious and almighty God we have!

In chapter 4, we begin to see what is most important to God and it begins with yet another warning. And this warning is more than a hint of what God sees as a top priority for His people.

In 4:3 a warning is given to not follow those 24,000 men who were killed at Baal-peor. What did they do? They bowed down to other gods. Idolatry, idolatry, idolatry. And no wonder that it is the first of the Ten Commandments that says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” God hates idolatry. Why? Because He is the one and only God that deserves all praise and worship. He burns with a holy jealousy for His glory.

We don’t get much further in the chapter before God warns again regarding idolatry in verses 15-19, and again in verse 23, followed by the consequences in verse 24 where we read similar to Hebrews 12:29, “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

God is communicating a strong message about idolatry, and if we simply take note of the sheer number of times that God will warn against idolatry in the book of Deuteronomy, we would be wise to assess idolatry in our own lives. But you say, “I have no carved images.” Neither do I, but listen to Pastor Alistair Begg writing in his daily devotional:

“We must not kid ourselves that we are immune from the possibility of breaking this commandment. Many of us read it and picture people bowing down before statues or going through elaborate rituals, and those mental images assure us that we’re not in danger of violating it. Yet the commandments are not restricted to outward actions but also relate to the disposition of our minds and hearts. From this perspective, we may not be as far from those mental images as we assume. We may not have statues to which we bow down, but maybe we have segments of our lives that we keep away from God, preserving them under the authority of some other little “deity”—ourselves, perhaps.

Ask yourself: “Do I joyfully acknowledge God’s comprehensive claim on my life? Is God in charge of my family, my work, my relationships, my money, my dating, my use of time?” Take a close and honest look to see if there are portions of life you try to keep from Him.

In addition to keeping things away from God, another form of danger is functionally replacing Him. When we put our family, our job, our hobbies, or anything else in the place that is God’s alone, we violate the first commandment. To the degree that we allow anyone or anything besides obedience to God to direct our course day to day, we defy His law.

So we are not so safe from the possibility of breaking this commandment as we may think! While we must acknowledge the truth that there is one God, we must also beware our own ability to put things in His place. If we do not daily submit ourselves to Him and entrust the entirety of our lives to Him, something will take His place. We are made to worship. The question is, are you going to worship the living God or are you going to pretend there is another?”

Still in chapter 4 of Deuteronomy, we get further insight to God’s jealousy for His glory in verses 6 through 8 where the passage indicates that God’s intention for the Israelites was for them to be both the recipient of blessings through godly living as well as an observable glory of God to the nations. They were to be in the world, but not of it.

So, after multiple warnings against disobedience, particularly the sin of idolatry, there is one more thing that stands out to me before we get to the “children heavy” verses in chapter 6 and beyond in this book. Verse 9-10 says, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.”

Then, in the same chapter and verse 40, “Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”

Two brief points:

1. God commands obedience from His people, but in the same breath that He commands obedience, He always includes that the children must be taught the same. This is a top priority for God, and we must get our Christian minds on the same page with Him.
2. God thinks generationally. That is, He knows that in order for His people to grow and do well, the next generation must be taught Who He is as well as all of His truth. Furthermore, He thinks of the implications of parents teaching their children so their children (verse 9) can teach their children, and so on.

We can see how disobedience to God’s revealed will played out in the Bible. In Judges 2, the Bible says this:

When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.

They chose the things (gods) of the world and did not teach the children as God had warned and commanded. Idolatry, idolatry, idolatry. Could this happen again to God’s people? Are we seeing it in our time? Think deeply about it.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Before we endeavor to answer the questioned posed, I want to mention that I do have an actual strategy for the articles and podcasts that I do weekly. Sure, there are some things that happen in my life that prompt me to write about them in any given week, but for the most part, I am setting the groundwork for what is coming in the months ahead.

In the most recent articles, I have done a brief survey of the state of the culture, the church, and parenting in America. My intention was to show you how desperate the world is for Christ (and doesn’t know it), how dangerous this world is for our children and grandchildren, and how little we are prepared to engage in the war for souls. I believe that it is fair to say that we are far too comfortable in our versions of the Christian life and because of that, I am writing to create a sense of urgency that compels us to be sober and take action- action that usually requires change.

But what I don’t want to convey is a sense of hopelessness, or sinful anxiety, or even discouragement. No, we know that our God rules and reigns from His throne and He has promised to never leave or forsake us. So, the attitude should be one of concern for our souls, our children’s souls, and for that matter, all of the nations. And those legitimate Gospel concerns should drive us to God’s truth for the answers to how we should live in light of our current situation and for the glory of God.

One more thing before I get to the point of today’s post. I pretty much haven’t done anything to promote this CherishEphesians64 ministry, but today I am going to ask you for your help.That is, if you have found these posts to be helpful and true, would you share them with friends and family? This is a great time to do this because we are going to spend the remainder of the year getting into the meat of what the Bible says about raising our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Yes, that is Ephesians 6:4!

And who is this for? Everyone who has children and everyone who will likely have children in the future. I think of all of the mistakes that I made raising my children prior to my conversion and how much better it would have been for my marriage and my children if I knew and applied the truth of God from the beginning! I am also giving a shout out to the parents who have adult children and may soon become grandparents. You need to be involved, too! We must learn to think generationally because as we will see from the Bible, God thinks generationally.

The best way to get the weekly post or listen to the podcast is to sign up. That can be done in one of three ways. You can email me the request to put an email on the email list (Mike@CherishEphesians64.com), or you can sign up at the bottom of every article, or you can click here: http://eepurl.com/h9GliX

Ok, let’s move on to the big question for today: Where Are The Bible’s Instructions To Raise Children? Well, if you scour the Bible for verses that prescribe how to raise children, you will note a couple of things. First, the word, “children” is used throughout the Bible and it does not always mean children. You will find that the Bible cites the children of Israel, the children of God, little children, children of Abraham, children of the flesh, children of the devil, children of darkness, children of light, and children of man- none of which is addressing actual young people. So yes, God uses the word children, but He uses it as a way to describe adults as a reflection of who or what they represent.

The second thing you will learn is that the New Testament has almost zero instruction on how to raise children in obedience to God’s instructions. Here are the only two verses that directly address Christian parenting:

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged (Colossians 3:21).

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Both verses were written by Paul and while the first part of each verse is almost identical and is commanded in the negative, it is only the Ephesians 6:4 that commands a positive action- to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

How can this be? How can God inspire the entire New Testament and say almost nothing about raising children? Is it an indication that that children are not important to God? Of course not! So, where are the commands and precepts? They are in the Old Testament! The greatest detail for God’s way of raising children is in the book of Deuteronomy and those commands are supported (as we will see) in Leviticus, Exodus, Joshua, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, and the Psalms. We also have quite a bit of helpful instruction in the Proverbs, although the writings there are not commandments.

The fact that the details for raising children are located in the Old Testament may be a problem for those Christians who do not give the Old Testament the same weight as the New Testament. How should we think about that? Well, books have been written about this topic, but I’m just going to make several brief points:

1. While it is clear that the New Testament gives us a greater revelation of God’s plan of salvation for His people, it is also true that all of the elements of New Testament revelation can be found in the types and shadows in the Old Testament. It is in the Old Testament that God teaches us about the Passover Lamb, the mediation of a covenant, the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin, and so on. The Old Testament gives foundation and depth to what God shows us in the New Testament.
2. The Jewish Christians in the New Testament were still learning about God in the Old Testament because the New Testament had yet to be written. Note Paul’s writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5 where he speaks of generational faith teaching which had to be based on the Old Testament: I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
3. We will be spending a good bit of time in Deuteronomy, and is quoted more than 50 times in the New Testament; a number exceeded only by the Psalms and Isaiah.
4. What did Jesus think about the Old Testament? He read from the Old Testament scrolls in the synagogue. He quoted from the Old Testament and after His resurrection and walking on the road with two men to Emmaus, the Bible says, And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27).
5. How pertinent is the Old Testament for the New Testament Christian? Paul writes in Romans 15:3, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

If we accept that the teaching about raising children is given in the Old Testament, it is logical to conclude that when Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, he had all that God had already said in the Old Testament as the context for the command to raise the children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. And if God’s concern for children is to be measured by the Old Testament writings, we will see that children are an incredibly important part of God’s plan for His people for all times.

In fact, I do not think that we fully appreciate the seriousness of God’s intentions. They are mentioned in the Garden (“Be fruitful and multiply”), are absolutely necessary to the promises to Abraham (“I will multiply your offspring as the stars are in heaven”) and are the subject of both great blessings as well as terrible curses. We will read of children being fed or starved, slaughtered, sacrificed to idols, eaten, fatherless, and unrighteous. It is notable that two of the greatest acts of wickedness recorded in the Bible were Pharaoh slaughtering babies to find Moses, and Herod slaughtering babies to find Jesus.

I’ll leave you with one final thought about God and how He thinks about children. In the verses that I am about to read to you, it seems to me that Jesus is not only talking about people other than parents who might cause a child to sin, but His words would apply to parents as well.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 18:1-6

Next time, we will begin our journey through the Old Testament to learn about God’s commands on parenting. In the meantime, be sober.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

In the last couple of articles, I have invited you to think carefully about our American culture and the state of the church. This week, I want to look at the state of parenting in America and I will be right up front- for me, parenting, for better or worse, is the most powerful human influence on the world that we live in and therefore, the greatest challenge or opportunity that lies before us. I say this because parents spend more time with their children than anyone else and that time gives them the ultimate opportunity to teach, shape, and mold their children into their own image. This is God’s design for the family and if parents teach their children a Biblical Worldview, it is likely, not guaranteed, that it will produce an adult with a Christian worldview.

But before I continue, I need to address a concern that some may have. You may ask, “are you saying that all I need to do to raise a child to adulthood with a Christian worldview is to make sure that I teach him a Christian worldview?” No, I am not. In fact, a mom and dad could literally be the perfect Christian parents (which is impossible) and have a child that was an absolute hellion. Why? Because God is the only One Who can change the heart of a person from being rock hard against His teaching, to loving His teaching. Only He can give saving grace and work in the heart of a person so that person turns to Him. And He does in accordance with the purposes of His will, and to the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:5-6).

I have seen children who appear to have been raised faithfully by Christian parents become Christians and I have seen children that were raised, or should I say survived, in broken, ungodly homes become Christians. God says to Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy” (Exodus 33:19). We cannot control the outcome of our parenting and God doesn’t command that we should, but He does command parents to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and He normally follows that obedience with a blessing.

So how does parenting look in America right now? Well, because the actions of parents are dictated by what parents think and believe, I’ll just bullet point some of the troublesome thinking that is manifestly clear in non-Christian parents. The first section I will label, “Parent’s beliefs are learned from a culture seeped in psychobabble and unbiblical thinking.” Some examples are:

• The belief that children have wisdom. Of course, this view does not agree with what God says in the Bible about children- that they do NOT have wisdom- and this has resulted in parents making life decisions based on the child’s direction. Disaster.
• The belief that children have the same rights as parents. This belief is supported by other beliefs that children should be on the same par as parents and takes away the leadership of the parents in the family.
• The belief that parents are not the best people to raise their own children. Listen to this week’s Wall Street Journal article about how our young people are thinking. The first part sets up the problem and the second part states a conclusion that doesn’t even mention parents. “Though both high-school girls and boys reported experiencing mental-health challenges, girls reported record high levels of sexual violence, sadness and suicide risk, the CDC said. In 2021, 57% of high-school girls reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, compared with 36% in 2011. Thirty percent reported they seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up from 19% in 2011.” And here is the absence of parental involvement in this conclusion: “Schools should prioritize teaching kids about sexual consent, managing emotions and asking for what they need, the CDC said. In addition, school environments need to be safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students, the agency added. Schools should encourage gender and sexuality alliances, provide safe spaces and people for LGBTQ+ students to go to for support, and ensure enforcement of antiharassment policies, the CDC said.”
• The belief that spankings are inhumane. Violently hitting children in anger is both inhumane and sinful, but this is not the same as what God commands in the Bible. There is a God honoring, gospel oriented way of bringing the rod to bear in child rearing and it is an important part of God’s plan.
• Human life is no longer sacred. This has resulted in the killing of 65 million babies in America. I have no words for this.
• Parents who do not want to do the hard things in parenting such as say no to their children’s friend groups, habits, or sexual choices. Of course, if you have no God to trust that He will be faithful in your godly parenting, you will always take what seems to be the easy way.

The second section is a list that I am labeling, “Parents are worshipping at the idol of self.” Some examples are:

• Happiness is the primary goal in life. This must be so because God has hardwired His creatures to worship and if they don’t worship Him, they will worship their own affections and desires which are first and foremost, about themselves.
• Financial wealth is a top priority for themselves, so making choices about their children’s education are inordinately influenced. For those who are not wealthy, they convince themselves that a free public school education will be OK and refuse to make any changes in the finances that would enable their children a better education. For those who are wealthy, they choose to pay for a better education so their children have a better chance of growing up and successfully chasing the same idol that money will bring happiness.
• Two other idols that serve the idol of happiness are entertainment and sports. Worshipping at the feet of these idols require enormous amounts of planning, time, money ,and energy and no matter how many times American parents experience a fleeting short term thrill, or even disappointment, they remain steadfast in their dedication. In addition, an unintended consequence of this kind of parenting trains children to believe that their lives will only be fulfilled if they chase after the idols of entertainment and sports in their adult lives.
• Parents who choose to be ignorant about their own children. This is now arrived at the point where many parents are finding out that schoolteachers know more about their kids than they do. Unfortunately, this also is contributing to the secular belief that we need the schools, not the parents, to raise children.
• Lazy parenting. Parents who choose to not make the effort to know what is going on outside the world that they have created for themselves. This ignorance often leads to their children falling into various experiences that damage their minds and hearts.
• Parents that are poor money managers. We now see that most of the government stimulus money has been spent and debt levels are now rising above pre-pandemic levels. Where the god of happiness reigns supreme, self-control and wisdom are suppressed.

Well, I have only scratched the surface, but that’s enough of that. It is discouraging. This behavior is expected and will continue because of the darkness of their hearts.

But what about Christian parents? Well, it breaks my heart to tell you that I have seen little difference between the non-Christian and the Christian parent, and I say that based on my observations as a Christian school leader and churchman over the last 25 years. Much of what I listed above is easily seen in the lives of the majority of families that call themselves followers of Christ. Far too often, Christian parents are thinking like non-Christians and doing all the same things that the people the Bible calls, “the world” are doing. In addition to modeling the same behavior of non-Christians, many professing Christian parents:

• Don’t model humility to their children.
• Don’t read their Bibles with or without their children.
• Aren’t modeling healthy marriages to their kids. The children don’t see dad loving mom as Christ loved the church and don’t see mom faithfully supporting her husband.
• Don’t see Sunday as a special day.

It’s not that children of Christian parents don’t see anything different from their non-Christian friend’s household. It’s just that the Christian differences that their parents talk about don’t fit with what they are actually doing in the life of the family and because of that, any effort to build a Christian worldview is washed away when the parents teach “let’s obey God” while their lives are dominated with going after the gods of the world. It reminds me of God telling the Israelites, “You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 6:14)

I’m not trying to be negative. I know that I write things that are not going to make everyone feel good. But Christian parents don’t need to be patted on the back for how wonderful they are. We all do that for ourselves. We simply need the truth. We need to be confronted with the truth, both good and bad, and not be like the man in James 1:22 who looks in the mirror and goes away and quickly forgets what was revealed to him.

So where do we go from here? Back to the first things. What does God mean when He tells us to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? How do we do it? What are the implications? That will take up all of my articles/posts for 2023! Hope to see you next time.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

People are fascinated with conspiracy theories, and with the invention of the internet and the proliferation of social media and streaming TV, the exponential number of anything and everything that excites the imagination continues. Recently, the greatest number of conspiracy theories have found their genesis in one of the most transformative events in history- the birth of COVID.

However, conspiracy theories are not new. Some notable theories were the secret nuclear tests of the 50’s, the chemicals sprinkled from the sky over America and the electronic waves bombarding our brains in the 60’s (remember the hats made of tin foil), or the alien abductions that have been allegedly occurring for the last 100 plus years.

These conspiracy theories often draw many into unending research, changes in personal behavior, and a compulsion to share such theories with those they love and care about. In addition, some have gone further by building home bunkers, stockpiling mass amounts of food and water, or building safe homes far away from the cities.

Now, I’m not naïve about conspiracy theories; some actually have their roots in a version of truth. And I’m not like that religious man in War of the Worlds, who stands in front of a clearly weaponized spaceship and says that I know you have come in peace… just before it fries him with a laser blast. But I am concerned about Christians spending vast amounts of time and energy paying attention to conspiracy theories while the greatest conspiracy, that is, a true conspiracy, is not getting the attention that God demands.

It is a conspiracy to destroy God’s creation, reputation, glory, and to steal all of that for himself. It is the lifelong objective of the one we call Satan, or Destroyer, and it is a plan that began in the Garden of Eden and is being worked out in our lives today. It is truly the most powerful, most comprehensive, most diabolical, and most ingenious conspiracy ever created and your destruction is a central part of it.

The apostle Peter says this devil, also called Apollyon, is a roaring lion and he leads every non-Christian on earth against the church or, Christ and His people. Psalm 2 says, Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

So, last week we took a brief look at the culture and today we will do a brief survey of the church. As an introduction, I will say that while we can rejoice in the work that some churches are doing, we should be deeply concerned about the vast majority of churches and their woeful lack of faithfulness to the mission God has entrusted to them.

I’ll begin by referencing a sermon preached by John MacArthur in February 2022 titled, “One Lord, One faith, one God: the exclusivity of Christianity.” MacArthur was citing reports that he had seen and stated, “66% of American Christians say many religions lead to eternal life. That’s two out of three. 52% of evangelicals say many religions can lead to eternal life. 48% of evangelicals say that God accepts the worship of all religious people.”

This is just one example of many surveys and studies that have been done over the last 25 years that clearly shows the incredible ignorance of professing believers in America and calls into question how many churchgoers are actually true followers of our Lord. This also illustrates one of the core problems in the American church- that many, many, churchgoing people do not know (nor care to know) God’s truth revealed in the Bible, and without the truth intellectually known and believed from the heart, professing Christians will be fools, but not fools for Christ.

How can this be? How did we get here? Have not Christian leaders poured themselves into many things to advance the gospel? Yes, much blood and sweat has been spent but the question is, has it been spent on the right things?

Wrong Headed Strategies and Bad Theology

I became a Christian 30 years ago at the ripe age of 36. Since that time, I have lived through years of observing church leaders and run of the mill Christians that were passionate about getting more Christians elected to political office. Do you remember the Moral Majority? Do you remember how we were going to make our country a Christian nation through control of the legislative process?

However, we will not advance the Kingdom by using the tools that the world uses. Spiritual weapons must be used to accomplish spiritual things. Conservatism cannot save us. At best it will help us live in a better society, but it will never save one soul. Our help and salvation is in the name of the Lord, the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have also witnessed the rise of the seeker driven church. Fundamentally, the seeker driven church fails at the start because it doesn’t understand that God’s design for the church is to equip the saints (believers), not to have strategies to serve the lost. We will not advance the cause of Christ by making our churches more comfortable for those who do not believe in Christ. This has been a plague on the American church for several decades and has greatly contributed to large churches that are filled with nice people who are on the road to perdition.

In addition, we have seen the rise of the faith healer and the false teaching of the word faith preacher. They are money grabbers who teach that man can manipulate God for his own gain. Blasphemy.

Concurrent with the rise of the seeker driven/friendly church, churches have been more open to reconsidering what the Bible teaches regarding sexuality and gender. It opened the door to the bad theology of accepting women as pastors and has subsequently moved on to a push for the acceptance of other gender and sex related issues such as homosexuality in church leadership. Sadly, all of this is a symptom of the church taking its cues from the culture rather than the Bible.

More recently, we have had the devastating battle over the implications of Critical Theory. Churches have split, relationships have been severed, and the gospel has been replaced by a new gospel that is in fact, no gospel at all.

The Church and the American Culture

As the salt of Christianity has been on the wane in our society, the devil has not been slow to encourage the government to squelch the preaching of God’s Word. This will continue because the message of the gospel is literally hated by the unconverted. In an upside down world where wrong has become right, we are seeing the loving gospel of Jesus Christ become classified as hate speech.

How about our young people? Many churches have been posting their weekly, monthly, and yearly statistics on how many young people accepted Christ and were baptized. Yet, we have also seen numerous reports for the last 25 years saying that 70-90% of our young people fall away from the faith after they leave their parents’ home for college or to live on their own. What happened to their faith? Or, what kind of faith was that? Many churches have coerced young people to verbally assent to the truths of the gospel without the appropriate follow up for real fruit that necessarily comes after an actual heart change.

Conspiracy of the Enemy

I believe the church has not been shrewd as serpent and wise as a dove. But, there is one who has been shrewd and wise and crafty. He is committed to the “long game” and has been willing to invest in a strategy and methodologies that bear fruit not in years, but in decades. He is focused and determined and never tires, and his name is Satan.

Satan has used the sinful heart of men to blind them to the truth, and to manipulate and destroy them by tempting mankind to love the things of this world. He has taken the blessings that God has given us and has refashioned them into all kinds of idols so that in the end, people have become worshippers of the gifts instead of the Giver and have no interest in giving thanks to the King of kings. I believe our churches are filled with these Romans 1 people.

But true Christians are not impervious to these same temptations, and many go about their Christian lives walking with the Lord in a manner that comfortably fits around their many worldly interests. This is manifested in their lukewarm giving, their lukewarm serving, and their lukewarm daily worship. They do not fully embrace the fact that they have been bought with a price and that their lives are no longer their own. However, God has made it very clear that you cannot love God and this world. And sadly, because most churches are unwilling to confront this kind of so called, “Christian life” they are now complicit in this ongoing unfaithfulness to Christ.

Does the church have a strategy to defeat this greatest conspiracy of all time? Yes, and I will get into that in future articles but for now, I wanted to focus on the state of the church in America and get you thinking deeply about two things. First, can you begin to get your mind around the bowl of wrath that God is storing up for people and churches that call themselves Christian, but teach things that are actually against the clear teaching of the Bible? Said another way, think about what we know God thinks about His name- His reputation and all of His attributes- and how His name is being blasphemed and misrepresented by so many churches in America. Frightening.

Second, understand that your life is woven into the devil’s conspiracy plan either as a supporter and tool for its success, or a name on the list of those he is trying to kill. And what should you be doing about it?

Next time, Lord willing, we will look at the state of parenting in America.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

I have been staring at my screen for some time now, struggling to find the best possible way to introduce information to you while not doing anything that would encourage you to tune out.

In fact, I almost gave up on writing about our culture today and maybe choosing another topic, but I received two communications today from highly respected church leaders. The first one was an email from Alistair Begg titled, “How to interpret the changing culture.” He writes, “What happened? The baby boomers (my group) gave up on God and raised their millennial children in a moral and religious vacuum. Christian parents failed to do the hard work necessary to see their children established in the faith. Consider the great concern of grandparents as they see their offspring showing little or no interest in the things of God.”

Then I listened to Kevin DeYoung’s podcast where he lamented about what he is seeing everywhere in our country and encouraged listeners to be bold. Church leaders have been talking about cultural change now for some time, but they are feeling a greater urgency to prepare the flock for action and persecution than ever before.

In last week’s post, I challenged you and me to not “box up” or compartmentalize things that are going on in the world God has placed us in, and to open our minds to understanding the vast challenges against the Kingdom of Christ as well as the innumerable opportunities to grow the Kingdom of Christ. Daily, it is a battlefield for which we will be held accountable for our thoughts and deeds. We can choose to look away, but we are commanded to engage.

There are three common responses that I have heard when I have been part of the discussion about the worldwide problem of evil. First, the declaration made by some, “I do enough.” That is one way of claiming permission to dismiss any further reaction to what is happening in the world. This may, in fact, be true. But it would probably have been better said if someone were to say that they truly cannot do anymore. However, I do not know of anyone who could actually make that claim with a straight face.

The second common response is more subtle and isn’t always clearly articulated but is essentially the belief that many of these evils going on in other states or even other countries, does not have any effect on that person’s family. I remember thinking that way some years ago. I live in a conservative state (Georgia) and a conservative county. You remember the Bible belt, right? Well, the devil’s way of chipping away at Christian values while the Christians are enjoying the world has yielded wonderful returns for him. In a mere two decades, Georgia has become a liberal, left leaning state and even that conservative county that I have lived in for more than 30 years has their school system rolling over to the most anti-Christian teachings. This is where 96% of the children are taught every day. My grandchildren are playing with those kids in their neighborhood.

The third reason that people dismiss doing anything more to think about or react to evil in our world is expressed like this: God is sovereign, and nothing can stop Him from working out His plan. In other words, He doesn’t need me to accomplish it. This is an attempt to say that God’s sovereignty trumps my responsibility, and this is bad theology. Think about it- God will sovereignly save people for Jesus, but He doesn’t evangelize them, we do. He doesn’t meet the lost for lunch, invite them to church, or send them emails filled with truth. We do. He also doesn’t go on mission trips or pray for unbelievers everywhere. We do. Maybe you don’t feel called? You were called. You were called when God sovereignly used another human being to share the good news of the gospel with you and by default (see Matthew 28:14), you were conscripted into His army of Kingdom first seeking-warriors!

So, what about this wicked world? Do you realize how wicked it is? Frankly, it has been a struggle for me to determine how much ink should be spilled on this topic. Unless you have been living under a rock, you already know that the magnitude and speed of change in our culture during these last 50 years has been pervasive and dramatic. Rather than write pages of details on the rapid decline of our culture, I will just touch the high points which overlay many other divisions and segments of depravity.

I was born in 1956 and grew up during the sexual revolution which began in the 1960s. With each successive decade, the moral decline in the area of sexuality has picked up steam. As many of you know, the current state of affairs includes things that would have never been imagined by those who lived in the 60s and 70s. Fast forward to 2023 where we find ourselves in a world where the Supreme Court of the United Sates has voted in favor of same sex marriage (2015); And now, just 7 years later, the state of the culture (as it pertains to sexuality) has changed at a faster pace than it was moving previous to that fateful decision. America no longer recognizes men and women as the men and women of their physical birth. Any person can demand to be recognized as the sex of their own choice (or no sex at all) and the subsequent effect on marriage, family, childbirth, the church, the workplace, and education, has been devastating.

The pace of Christianity’s decline in America correlates with the previously mentioned instances of sexual perversion and the decline in morality as a whole in our culture. Here are a handful of bullet points from Pew Research Center (December 14, 2021):

• The secularizing shifts evident in American Society so far in the 21st century show no signs of slowing. The latest Pew Research Center survey of the religious composition of the United States finds the religiously unaffiliated share of the public is 6 percentage points higher than it was five years ago and 10 points higher than a decade ago.
• Christians continue to make up a majority of the US populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011.
• Currently, about three in 10 U.S. adults are religious “nones” – people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religious identity.
• Today, 24% of U.S. adults describe themselves as born again or evangelical Protestants, down six percentage points since 2007.

And there’s more.

Mass Manipulation

We also have experienced COVID and all that it showed us about the hearts of people. During the time of COVID, we saw deceit and wicked manipulation from those in leadership and a massive percentage of our population that had little or no ability to discern the times because their love and trust for God was either small or nonexistent. Simply put- no love for God equals no discernment and no joy.

Economic Consequences

The refusal of man to obey the creation mandate to be fruitful and multiply is not a sin without consequences. Declining birthrates has lit a self-destructive fuse on an economy that will result in too few young people that will work, pay taxes, and support the aged in the years ahead.

Fear

An absence of the one true God in the lives of so many people has fueled the fire of various types of fear that had already been growing in powerful and destructive ways. Fear has manifested itself in producing the greatest levels of births out of marriage (fear of commitment), a lower birthrate among married couples (financial fears), and all-time highs in the percentage of people experiencing anxiety, depression, and committing suicide.

Looking for Help in the Wrong Places

And how are those fears dealt with in today’s culture? Sadly, they are not confronted and redirected by the truth. No, they are temporarily assuaged by drowning one’s mind using prescription meds, recreational drugs, various kinds of substance abuse, or entertainment. You will note that I listed entertainment in the category of drugs. This is because entertainment, like drugs, provides a temporary way to escape a person’s reality. As the great Os Guinness wrote years ago, we are a nation that is entertaining ourselves to death, and that entertainment is not only an escape for parents and children, but it is also a powerful teacher of worldview.

The Emergence of Critical Theory

With the country being shaken and sifted during COVID, it was the perfect time to crank up the beliefs that are associated with Critical Theory. New definitions for being inclusive, the rights of the people, racism, and reparations were drilled into the minds of the people, even Christians, and destruction and hate were stoked.

America’s K-12 Schools

And finally, there is education. About 90% of all American schoolchildren (including children from Christian families) attend a K-12 school every day for about 8 hours, that trains them to become atheists. Following their K-12 education, they typically attend a college or university that is overwhelmingly secular in its training of young minds and in many cases, aggressively anti-Christian in their teaching of young adults.

America’s Colleges and Universities

According to an article by John Ellis in the Wall Street Journal (January 14, 2022), “The current left-right campus faculty ratio is probably about 15 to 1, but new appointments are being made at a rate of about 50 to 1. As we approach complete leftist saturation among professors, college campuses will become even more intolerant, irrational, and politically aggressive.”

Ellis continues, “More important still, academia’s influence on society will intensify as the number of people who have graduated from radicalized campuses increases and the number of those who graduated with a conventional college education decline. A generation – students from about 2000 to now – has graduated from one party campuses. Where will we be when two generations have done so, and another generation has died off?”

Why?

There are many reasons that have been cited for these changes, but for the Christian, we must not look to the secular psychologists, the so-called brilliant ones in the world of academia, or those of great wealth and fame for answers. Christians know that the only source of absolute truth is the Bible, and to attempt to find answers apart from the wisdom of God is folly.

For the Christian, the answer to this moral decline in our culture is directly related to the spiritual condition of the hearts of the people and those hearts are increasingly alienated from God. Some of those hearts are not Christian and until they are given a new heart (regeneration/salvation), we cannot expect current trends to change. Others have a heart that belongs to the Lord, but their Christian lives are weak and stunted by worshipping other things that crowd their devotion to Christ. They are to be the salt to the world, but they have little saltiness and therefore, little effect. We know that as Christianity grows in a culture, there is an increase in both salt and light. The salt has a preserving or restraining influence, and the light brings truth that transforms minds and culture. Conversely, when salt and light (Christianity) is in decline, we can expect to see the opposite- less truth and less restraint of evil in society.

We have been witnessing the master plan of Satan and it really is quite brilliant. He has been using man’s pride, greed, and a myriad of idolatries to create lies and confusion around foundational truths about God’s creation. If he can disrupt the creation order (the family, marriage, sexuality, procreation, work, education, rest) and distract God’s people to prioritize the things of the world over their dedication and love to God, he will continue to have the kind victories we have witnessed these last 50 years.

So, what do you do with this tsunami of sin rolling over the country and the cultural waves that are crashing into your heart and the hearts and minds of your children? What is the Christian parent’s responsibility before God? There are many Biblical answers to that question, but before we see what God has to say, I want to us look beyond the state of the culture by looking next week at the state of the church in America, and the following week a brief survey of the state of Christian parenting in America. In doing so, I hope that God will create a growing urgency and conviction about the need to engage more fully in the battle for the sake of Christ.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

On a relative scale, creation is something for which we have little knowledge and even less appreciation for. When we take the time to be still and comprehend the genius, the vastness, and the beauty of God’s handiwork, we only begin to scratch the surface of Who God is in all of His glory.

The complexity and ability of the human mind in particular is certainly one of His greatest displays of Himself. The ability of the brain to think with all of its implications such as communicating, problem solving, and holding onto memories, is in fact, mind boggling.

Another fascinating thing that the mind can do is compartmentalization. What is it? Compartmentalization is a person’s ability to actively forget information for a period of time. Put another way, it is if a person takes information that has been received and places it in a box in their mind, maybe better described as a vault, with the purpose of keeping that information out of the daily thought processes of the person’s mind. I’m not going to get further into the weeds on how exactly that works, but you know it is true, and some people are better than others at this, but all have this incredible ability built into our amazing minds.

So, what kinds of things may we choose to compartmentalize? We may choose to compartmentalize painful memories. This can be a great blessing because painful memories running free in our daily course of thinking might hinder us from functioning in a healthy way. Or we may choose to compartmentalize anxieties that would be associated with a future event. Again, this can be a blessing.

But there are also instances of choosing to compartmentalize, that are not helpful to us. Think of financial obligations that we do not want to face. Some people get additional help with avoiding financial obligations by not opening the envelope with the billing notice inside of it. It is as if not opening the envelope means they do not yet owe the money.

And then there are the times when a person receives the most important information in the world and chooses to ­­­­­­­­­stuff that information into the compartmentalization vault, so they do not have to think about it. Paul describes this horrible use of an amazing mind in Romans 1:18-23:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. These people suppress the truth, or compartmentalize it, so they don’t have to think about what God demands of them- thankfulness, worship, honor, and obedience.

But what about Christians? Do Christians suppress the truth? Well, not in the same way as non-believers (rejecting the gospel in unrighteousness), but I do believe that Christians also choose to compartmentalize truth – in unfaithfulness. I’ll give you several examples but first I’ll put in bold letters right here: I know these things because I do these things, and I suspect that you are no different.

I am guilty of compartmentalizing things that are generally unpleasant to think about, such as people who are starving in other parts of the world. In other words, we are uncomfortable with the fact that this is a fallen world and the pain and suffering that is continually taking place is ugly. I don’t want to look at that. This is the response of a person that has a stunted Christian worldview. The fact is that we have been given the Creation mandate (Genesis 1:28) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20 ), and those mandates demand that we care about, even love, every person on the planet. Furthermore, in order to obey these mandates, we must be a people that makes efforts to understand the times that we live in (1 Chronicles 12:32). Even selfishly, if you want to preserve and prosper your own family, you must understand the world we live in. You must be able to see the opportunities for the gospel as well as the potential attacks from the wicked one. 1 Peter: 5:8 says, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

There is also a practical side to being actively engaged understanding the world we live in. God’s economy is one of sowing and reaping and if we are not sowing seeds to become wise, we will suffer the consequences of a damaged crop. For example, there is a declining birth rate in America. So, you say, I have 4 kids and that has nothing to do with me. Not true. Lower birth rates are leading to fewer future workers, which means fewer taxes for Social Security and fewer heath care workers in the future. Who will take care of you in your old age?

What about the ungodly teaching in the public schools? No problem for you because you are homeschooling? Do you not see that more than 90% of the kids in America that attend and are being taught by the public schools will one day be in the majority of both private and government leadership- running companies and the country in which your children are going to be living? Be sober minded, says Peter.

So, maybe you say, “I already am very involved with doing certain things for the Lord and I have a very busy life outside of church stuff, so I don’t have the time or energy to do anything else, including thinking about any more Kingdom things.” Yes, that is exactly the problem. Who can fit into their lives the thinking and doing and seeking the Kingdom of God when we have so many other things to do? We are already so busy enjoying the blessings that He has bestowed on us that doing more would change our lifestyle.

Yes, it might just do that. It might just threaten the life that we have created for ourselves; a life that has a comfortable level of serving God and enjoying the things that have no eternal value. A life that suppresses truth in unfaithfulness. A life that compartmentalizes information that would threaten our personal world.

And the result of this worldly, comfortable Christianity? We have lost the culture. Too little salt, too little light, for too long.

OK, so I think I have made my best effort to “stir the pot.” I have raised a number of questions to which I provided no immediate answers; I have not said anything about what we need to do other than take ownership of this sometimes blessing, sometimes curse called compartmentalization.

And that’s where I am going next with this blog. For the last six months, I have been writing about various things in the Christian life including the great need for every Christian to have a proper understanding of sin and the need for every Christian to becoming more like Christ (Sanctification and Holiness).

Going forward, I want to explore what the Bible says about the many important things that instruct us how to live. I believe that the Lord has so much more for us than we seem to have settled for. You see, I don’t think many of us are experiencing what Jesus said He came to do. He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b). He also gave us a command with a promise in Matthew 6:33- “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”.

There is so much more for us in the heart of God and I think He has told us how to receive it. See you next time.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Have you ever had your spouse, or a friend suddenly stop you from leaving for work or getting in front of a group of people just so they could straighten your tie, or remove a piece of lint, or even point out that some article of clothing was not properly closed? They noticed and acted because they were concerned about how you would look to others. In the case of the first two examples, you were thankful, and in the case of the third example, you were really grateful! We take those as acts of kindness or love.

Yet, while we are apt to pay attention and act over those sorts of small “out of place” details, we are remiss in taking note and acting regarding the most important things to a friend or loved one- things that are out of place concerning their soul. We must ask ourselves the “why” question. Are we ignorant of what the Bible says a Christian looks like? Are we afraid to talk to a friend or loved one when something is out of place in their Christian walk? I think there is a lot to discuss regarding those two questions, but that will have to wait for another post. This post is about knowing what to look for in the life of a professing believer, the visible evidence of sanctification in particular. We must know what to look for before we are challenged with a loving response and in order to do that, I take you back to the great book written by J.C. Ryle, called Holiness.

The topic is not only incredibly important for us to think about; it is also huge. In the remainder of this article, I am going to do my best to parse J.C. Ryle’s words (The book is called Holiness) down to a size that will fit into this post. My previous article based on Ryle’s book was on the absolute necessity of sanctification; this article concerns the evidence of sanctification in every true believer.

As always, I implore you to think deeply about application first to yourself, and then to others. Ryle begins this section of his book with what he calls The Visible Evidence of Sanctification. From Ryle:

In a word, what are the visible marks of a sanctified man? What may we expect to see in him? It is difficult because it cannot possibly be treated without giving offence. But at any risk truth ought to be spoken, and there is some kind of truth which especially requires to be spoken in the present day.

1. True sanctification then does not consist in talk about religion.

In fact, it is sickening and disgusting to hear the cool and flippant language which many pour out about ‘conversion’, ‘the Savior’, ‘the gospel’, ‘finding peace’, ‘free grace’ and the like, while they are notoriously serving sin or living for the world. God does not want His people to be mere empty tubs, sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. We must be sanctified, not only ‘in word and in tongue, but in deed and truth’ (1 John 3:18).

2. True sanctification does not consist in temporary religious feelings.

Many, it may be feared, appear moved and touched and roused under the preaching of the gospel, while in reality their hearts are not changed at all. Like the stony-ground hearers, they receive the Word with joy (Matt. 13:20), but after a little they fall away, go back to the world and are harder and worse than before. Therefore, let us urge on everyone who exhibits new interest in religion to be content with nothing short of the deep, solid, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It is a thousand times better to begin more slowly, and then ‘continue in the Word’ steadfastly, than begin in a hurry without counting the cost, and by and by look back with Lot’s wife, and return to the world.

3. True sanctification does not consist in outward formalism and external devoutness. Thousands appear to imagine that true holiness is to be seen in an excessive quantity of bodily religion – in constant attendance on church services, reception of the Lord’s Supper, observance of fasts and saints’ days, and in multiplied bowings and turnings and gestures and postures during public worship. But I am afraid that in many cases this external religiousness is made a substitute for inward holiness. Above all, when I see that many followers of this outward, sensuous, and formal style of Christianity are absorbed in worldliness, and plunge headlong into its pomps and vanities without shame, I feel that there is need of very plain speaking on the subject. There may be an immense amount of ‘bodily service’, while there is not a jot of real sanctification.

4. Sanctification does not consist in retirement from our place in life, and the renunciation of our social duties. In every age it has been a snare with many to take up this line in the pursuit of holiness. Hundreds of hermits have buried themselves in some wilderness, and thousands of men and women have shut themselves up within the walls of monasteries and convents, under the vain idea that by so doing they would escape sin and become eminently holy. They have forgotten that no bolts and bars can keep out the devil and that, wherever we go, we carry that root of all evil, our own hearts. It is doing our duty in that state to which God has called us, like salt in the midst of corruption and light in the midst of darkness, which is a primary element in sanctification. It is not the man who hides himself in a cave, but the man who glorifies God as master or servant, parent or child, in the family and in the street, in business and in trade, who is the scriptural type of a sanctified man.

5. Sanctification does not consist in the occasional performance of right actions. It is the habitual working of a new heavenly principle within, which runs through all a man’s daily conduct, both in great things and in small. Its seat is in the heart and, like the heart in the body, it has a regular influence on every part of the character. Just so there are scores of people in the present day who seem to have spasmodical fits of ‘goodness’, as it is called, and do many right things under the influence of sickness, affliction, death in the family, public calamities, or a sudden qualm of conscience. Yet all the time any intelligent observer can see plainly that they are not converted, and that they know nothing of sanctification?

6. Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual respect to God’s law, and habitual effort to live in obedience to it as the rule of life. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that a Christian has nothing to do with the law and the Ten Commandments, because he cannot be justified by keeping them. The same Holy Ghost who convinces the believer of sin by the law, and leads him to Christ for justification, will always lead him to a spiritual use of the law, as a friendly guide, in the pursuit of sanctification. Our Lord Jesus Christ never made light of the Ten Commandments. On the contrary, in His first public discourse at the sermon on the mount, He expounded them, and showed the searching nature of their requirements. Paul never made light of the law; on the contrary, he says, “The law is good, if a man uses it lawfully.’ ‘I delight in the law of God after the inward man’ (1 Tim. 1:8; Rom. 7:22). He that pretends to be a saint, while he sneers at the Ten Commandments and thinks nothing of lying, hypocrisy, swindling, ill temper, slander, drunkenness, and adultery, is under a fearful delusion. He will find it hard to prove that he is a ‘saint’ in the last day!

7. Genuine sanctification will show itself in a habitual endeavor to do Christ’s will, and to live by His practical precepts. These precepts are to be found scattered everywhere throughout the four Gospels, and especially in the sermon on the mount. He that supposes they were spoken without the intention of promoting holiness, and that a Christian need not attend to them in his daily life, is really little better than a lunatic, and at any rate is a grossly ignorant person. A truly sanctified man will never forget this. He serves a Master who said, ‘You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you’ (John 15:14).

8. Genuine sanctification will show itself in a habitual desire to live up to the standard which Paul sets before the churches in his writings. I defy anyone to read Paul’s writings carefully without finding in them a large quantity of plain practical directions about the Christian’s duty in every relation of life and about our daily habits, temperament, and behavior to one another. These directions were written down by inspiration of God for the perpetual guidance of professing Christians. He who does not attend to them may possibly pass muster as a member of a church or a chapel, but he certainly is not what the Bible calls a ‘sanctified’ man.

9. Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual attention to the active graces which our Lord so beautifully exemplified, and especially to the grace of charity. ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another’ (John 13:34, 35). The selfish Christian professor, who wraps himself up in his own conceit of superior knowledge and seems to care nothing whether others sink or swim, go to heaven or hell, so long as he walks to church or chapel in his Sunday best, and is called a ‘sound member’ – such a man knows nothing of sanctification. He may think himself a saint on earth, but he will not be a saint in heaven.

10. Genuine sanctification, in the last place, will show itself in habitual attention to the passive graces of Christianity. When I speak of passive graces, I mean those graces which are especially shown in submission to the will of God, and in bearing and forbearing towards one another. Of one thing I feel very sure: it is nonsense to pretend to sanctification unless we follow after the meekness, gentleness, longsuffering, and forgivingness of which the Bible makes so much. People who are habitually giving way to peevish and cross tempers in daily life and are constantly sharp with their tongues and disagreeable to all around them, spiteful people, vindictive people, revengeful people, malicious people – of whom, alas, the world is only too full – all such know little as they should know about sanctification.

Such are the visible marks of a sanctified man. I do not say that they are all to be seen equally in all God’s people. I freely admit that in the best they are not fully and perfectly exhibited. But I do say confidently that the things of which I have been speaking are the scriptural marks of sanctification, and that they who know nothing of them may well doubt whether they have any grace at all. Whatever others may please to say, I will never shrink from saying that genuine sanctification is a thing that can be seen, and that the marks I have endeavored to sketch out are more or less the marks of a sanctified man.

So, there it is from Ryle. I’ll finish this post with several questions for you to ponder. Do you know a person who claims to follow Christ, but you cannot see Christ in him? A person who says that they love Jesus, but they clearly don’t love to do what Jesus has commanded? What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do if that person is you?

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

This week, I am stepping away from sharing truth from J.C. Ryle’s wonderful book on holiness to discuss an aspect of the Christian life that impacted me in a strong sermon I heard this past Sunday. In the few minutes that I have in this venue, I am not going to try to expound the passage, but hopefully we can glean some critical points for our lives.

The passage is from Matthew 16:21-23, and it reads,

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

The disciples had just been told something that was incredibly hard for them to hear- no great military victory for Jesus and His people, not even a comfortable roll into power. No, the future for Jesus, and it is important to remember that it is the future for Jesus that Jesus desired, was to be killed.

In an ideal world (which we are not), Peter would have taken that information in and responded with loving support for his Master. Instead, Peter was repulsed by Jesus’ words and responded in a way that revealed that he did not have the mind of Christ. In essence, Peter thought that there was something better for Christ that was based on Peter’s view of the world. To Jesus, being fully man as well as being fully God, Peter’s response was a temptation to Jesus to disobey the will of the Father and Jesus retorted, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

While we cannot compare the challenges of our Christian lives to be on the same scale as our Lord during His time here on earth, it is true that what we have been called to do is incredibly difficult. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 1, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

It is possible to lead holy lives and to grow in holiness, but it is hard to do. Yes, we have been given a new nature and yes, we are being led by the Holy Spirit, but that rotten remaining flesh is warring against what we know we should do every day. The world around us is tempting us and our remaining sinful desires are begging us to partake in them. In addition, the devil and his minions are constantly looking for a chink in our armor to make us fall.

During my tenure as the leader of a Christian school, we always sought to understand the parents who were considering enrolling their kids in the school. We surveyed parents at our Open House times, phone inquiries, and tours of the school, always asking what they thought about the school. We wanted to know if there were things that we could improve so more parents would choose our school for Christian education. Now, I want to to say right up front that our school was far from what God would call holy. It was governed by sinners leading other sinners to carry out our mission. But we did try to be faithful to our mission to honor the Lord through the work we were doing at our school.

Based on feedback from parents over the years, we found that many Christian parents in our community thought that we were trying too much! We heard that we were too serious about being a Christian school, that there was too much Jesus, or we were too Christian. We were criticized for having excessive talk about the Bible, unreasonable expectations for accountability from the students, and extreme expectations for students to respect the teachers. Parents wanted a school that was a kind of hybrid- some Christian, some worldly school. We found ourselves outside of much of the Christian community and suffered significantly in our enrollment through the years. Sadly, this is the nature of many Christians and Christian churches today- a kind of Jesus overlay with a dominant foundation in things that are comfortably fitting into worldly desires.

Another common experience for the school was hearing from parents that were initially very interested in enrolling the in children, but after speaking with their friends, had a complete reversal on their view of enrolling in a Christian school. What happened? Why weren’t these friends, most of which were professing Christians, excited that this particular family’s kids would go to a school where they could learn about Christ every day and experience a wonderful book education as well as a Christian worldview? Why instead were they told by their friends that a Christian education was unneeded, that their public school had mostly Christian teachers, that this change would threaten the continuity of their interfamily play groups? Because they had the same mindset as Peter- a mind set on the world rather than the Kingdom of Christ. They were thinking and speaking like people who did not know Jesus.

And choosing the things of God has consequences. You see, if those critical parents agreed that Christian schooling was good for their friend’s children, they would be confronted with the question of why they weren’t choosing Christian education for their own children. And if they chose Christian schooling for their own children, that would mean tuition had to be paid, and that may mean something that is temporal and worldly in their lives would have to go.

Back to the parents that were initially excited about enrolling in the school, they also were facing otheropposition to their godly desire to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They were already being influenced by the worldly view of their Christian friends and now they were under spiritual attack from their own sinful desires to be pleasing to people. Would their friends think that they were extreme, arrogant, legalistic, or even judgmental? Would they lose those friendships or be ostracized in some way from the group? And then there was their own children. The 6th grader didn’t want to leave her school and her friends. She didn’t care about learning about Jesus, and she might pitch a fit when she finds out. Would the parents say as Joshua did, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord?

Most people don’t even see all of the work of the devil that’s going on around them, nor do they understand the power of their flesh that remains. You see, even their children can be used to work against them as they decide for more God honoring things such as Christian education.

Following the passage that I quoted above, God graciously provides an antidote to the kind of worldly thinking that Peter displayed. The Bible says in verses 24-26:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

That’s it, isn’t it? The loves of this life will cost you your soul. We have to make decisions daily and every one of them, even the seemingly small one, is a decision for Christ or against Him. It can be about the people you choose to hang with, the way you spend money, the way you spend time, the books, the movies, or the music you fill your mind with.

Relax, you say, what’s the big deal? Am I not a good enough Christian? If that is your view, you are on a slippery slope. Christians love God by obeying Him.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.

God, please help us to desire to live holy lives!

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

During my 22 years as the leader of a Christian school, we used an application process for enrollment that included a request from the parents to tell us how they came to Christ. This was important because we viewed our role as one of partnering with the parents in the education of their children, and it was essential that we partner with parents who were mostly aligned with how we thought about God, man, family, children, and so on.

Hearing about this, you may believe that I enjoyed the thousands of testimonies that I read as I reflected on the grace and goodness of God in the lives of the parents, but that was not the case. What I learned from the testimonies was that many of the parents wrote about their conversion experience at a very young age followed by years of ignoring God. Then, typically after some tragedy in their life, they “reconnected with God” and began to live their lives as Christians. However, within the group that had that kind of testimony, many of the parents were living lives that still did not reflect what the Bible says about Christian living. In hearing more about their history, their views on parenting and education, and their conversations (or lack thereof) about Christ, it was difficult to see any difference between them and a non-believer.

So, apart from asking and answering the obvious question, “were they Christians or not?” there is something incredibly important to discern from this situation: the parents that I have described above did not understand what the Bible says about the absolutely necessary change in the life of a believer when they become born again Christians. Why is this so important? Because every person who claims that they are a Christian must know that the Bible says that a changed heart demands a changed life, and if they have not had that changed life, they need to go to Christ for true salvation. In fact, these types of professing Christians may be the kind of professors that Christ talked about in His teaching on the Sower of seeds in Matthew 13:3-9 and verses 18-23.

But the problem is broader in its scope and depth. We know that the Bible teaches that unsaved people are blind to the truth, so it is unlikely the person who thinks they are a Christian and are not, will be able to recognize their predicament. That means that someone must tell them, but because no one wants to have that conversation and most churches refuse to preach this truth, the person in this predicament goes on merrily toward perdition.

This avoidance of the truth, or ignorance of it, is often seen in parents when they have a young child who has made a profession of faith, but after several years is behaving like the devil. This can cause parental confusion and regularly results in a discussion with their pastor for advice. Tragically, instead of dealing with the reality of the situation and having serious conversations with the child about the legitimacy of their Christian walk, parents are told to trust the day that the young person made their profession, and the situation continues.

What specifically are we talking about when we talk about change in the life the believer? We are talking about sanctification and for a wonderful guide on what the Bible says about sanctification, we head back to J.C. Ryle’s book Holiness. It is impossible to get even 5% of what Ryle says about the chapter on sanctification into a couple of short articles, but I’m going to attempt to pluck the best of the best. You and I need to have a proper understanding on this subject for the sake of ourselves, family, and friends.

Ryle want to give us 12 points on the nature of sanctification. Twelve points? Yikes, yes, hang in there with me.

1. Sanctification is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to the Christian. He cites John 15:5 where Jesus says, he that abides in Me and I in him, will bring forth much fruit. Ryle writes that the union with Christ that produces no effect on the heart is a mere formal union, and worthless to God. True faith constrains a man to love and being forgiven much, he loves much. He walks in the light and has a lively hope in Christ (James 2:17-20; Titus 1:1; Gal. 5:6; 1 John 1:7; 3:3).
2. Sanctification is then inseparable consequence of becoming a Christian because the Christian receives a new nature that always leads to a new life. He does not go on committing the same old sins because he has been born of God (1 John 3:9).
3. Sanctification is the only certain evidence that a man has the indwelling Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation and if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Romans 8:9). And the Spirit of God never lies dormant and idle in the soul. He always makes His presence known (Galatians 5:22). By the way, this is fact that many who wrote their testimonies for me did not understand. Ryle continues, it is nonsense to believe that we have the Spirit in us if we do not walk in the Spirit.
4. Sanctification is the only mark of election because the Bible is clear that elect men and women may be known by their holy lives. When Paul sees the working faith and love of the Thessalonians (2 Thess. 2:13), he says, “I know your election of God.” Ryle comments, “He who says he one of God’s elect while he is willfully and habitually living in sin, is only deceiving himself. Where there is at least not some appearance of sanctification, we may be quite certain there is no election.” (1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:3-4)
5. Sanctification is a thing that will always be seen. A truly sanctified person may be so clothed with humility that he can see in himself nothing but sin and defects. Like Moses, when he came down from the mountain, he may not be conscious that his face shines. But whether he sees it himself or not, others will always see in him a tone and taste and character and habit of life unlike that of other men. Light may be very dim, but if there is only a spark in a dark room, it will be seen.
6. Sanctification is a thing for which every believer is responsible. Ryle holds as strongly as anyone that every man on earth is accountable to God, and on that last day all the lost will be speechless and without excuse. Believers are eminently and particularly responsible and under a special obligation to live holy lives. They are not as others, dead and blind and unrenewed; they are alive to God and have light and knowledge and a new way of living within them. God has given them a new heart and new nature and they are deprived of all excuse if they do not live for his praise. This is a point which is far too much forgotten. A man who professes to be a true Christian, while he sits still, content with a very low degree of sanctification, and coolly tells you he can do nothing is a very pitiable sight and a very ignorant man.
7. Sanctification is something which grows in degrees. This truth can be found in the Bible where Jesus prays to sanctify His people and Paul writes to the Thessalonians praying, “may the very God of peace sanctify you.” This proves that Christians will grow in their knowledge and faith over time and that it is possible that every Christian no matter where they are in their Christian life, can increase in sanctification (John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). All Christians would agree that they understand more, and feel closer to God, and see their sins more, and believe more as they get on in their Christian life. They grow in grace as Peter exhorts believers to do and abound more and more according to the words of Paul (2 Peter 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:1).
8. Sanctification is a thing which depends greatly on diligent use of scriptural means such as Bible reading, private prayer, and regular attendance at a faithful church. Anyone who is careless about such things must never expect to make much progress in sanctification.
9. Sanctification is a thing which does not prevent a man from having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict. By conflict Ryle means we may struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new. Ryle points us to consider the language of Paul in the 7th chapter of Romans. He commends a careful study to see that the battle Paul is in does not describe the experience of an unconverted man, or of a young and unestablished Christian. But, it is the description of an old, experienced saint in close communion with God.
10. Sanctification is a thing which cannot make a man right with God, and yet it pleases God. The holiest actions of the holiest saint that ever lived are all more or less full of defects and imperfection. They are either wrong in their motive or defective in their performance. However, the Bible distinctly teaches that the holy actions of a sanctified man, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God (Hebrews 13:16; Colossians 3:20; 1 John 3:22).
11. Sanctification is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character in the great day of judgment. The question will not be how we talked and what we professed, but how we lived and what we did. It is certain that men’s works and doings will be considered and examined in it (John 5:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:13).
12. Sanctification is absolutely necessary in order to train and prepare us for heaven. To be really happy in heaven, it is clear and plain that we must be somewhat trained and made ready for heaven while we are on earth. The favorite idea of many, that dying men need nothing except forgiveness of sins to have them ready for that great change that will occur from this life to the next, is a profound delusion.

Well, I am done with the 12 points that Ryle has on the nature of sanctification. I know, it is a ton. But, these are truths that deserve our deepest thinking, and will have practical use as we interact with friends, family, and especially our children. Remember Ephesians 6:4: we are to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

We talked about resolutions in an earlier article and whether or not they are God centered. I think of resolutions as things that you have made a determined, unstoppable commitment to do. Plans are similar in the fact that you are stating something that you want to achieve and involves a particular strategy but may be more flexible in how you go about it. And we are still in that place in the year where we tend to reflect on the past year and make plans for the year ahead.

I’ve been reading about how to plan for next year in the secular world of “brilliant” advice. Much of what I have read suggests that our planning should be on things that you can do that focuses on our long term well-being. Well, that sounds reasonable. Sadly however, the secular world knows nothing about the fact that our greatest well-being is rooted in the Christian’s relationship and walk with the Lord.

The other thing that I have seen repeated in the articles that I have read is the suggestion that you first analyze your own behavior to determine the things you value and then construct your future plans around those values. One writer asks, “can we even know our values? Insofar as our values are undefined and vague, we need to know the options for making them more specific. Again, self-examination is not a bad thing at all, but self-examination in a life without God excludes the things of life that are truly valuable, namely a life in Christ, and the Christian’s values are graciously given to us by God in His Word. It’s not a ball of confusion!

Why even have a plan? We plan because we know that we will give an account not only for every word that we have spoken, but every minute that God gives us and how we used the tools and talents that He has given us. God has given us work to do and we are not to be like the sluggard of Proverbs 24:30-33. Planning is a good and wise thing to do but there are several things that we need to be on guard against.

First, we need to ask ourselves if our plans are aligned with the revealed will of God?

Years ago, I met with a man who was extremely stressed about wanting to go into ministry full time but didn’t know if it was God’s will that He should do so. Should he try to make it happen? How could he know God’s will? And if God didn’t want it to happen, what might be the negative consequences that he would experience?

I appreciated his concern to not offend God, but I believe it was unwarranted. Based on the many passages in scripture that call all of God’s people to be concerned first about growing the Kingdom of God, a desire to be in full time ministry was clearly in the revealed will of God. However, there is no way to know if God intended to put this particular man in full time ministry at this particular time or ever. This is where we can move forward with our plan and rest in Proverb 16:9 where it says, The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

This proverb tells us that planning is something that we should do, but our sovereign God lovingly orchestrates whether the plan will come to fruition as He sees fit. And Spurgeon adds this thought from his devotional citing Isaiah 58:11 : “There are no dilemmas out of which you will not be delivered if you live near to God and your heart is kept warm with holy love. You will not go astray in the company of God. Like Enoch, walk with God, and you cannot miss your road. You have infallible wisdom to direct you, unchangeable love to comfort you, and eternal power to defend you. “The LORD”—mark the word—”the LORD will guide you continually.”

But while the gentleman that I met with was pursuing something that was pleasing to God based on Bible based precepts, it is too easy for Christians to plan things that are not pleasing to the Lord. Paul, found it necessary to writing to the Ephesian church and admonish them to remember that they are not to think and live like they did when they were not believers. There is no part of our lives, including our plans, that should be ruled by our lusts, assuming you do actually belong to Christ. From chapter 4:17-24, Paul writes:

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

So, you must ask yourself if your plans are Christian or pagan, and does the way you will go about executing your plan incorporate precepts and principles that you have learned from the Bible? For example:

Do you have plans to deal with a difficult situation or person?

Do you have plans to grow your wealth?

Do you have plans to become healthier?

Do you have plans to be more of a servant?

On the surface, there is nothing wrong with each of those plans, but there is also an opportunity for sinful motives and sinful means. You must prayerfully examine your heart.

Another major concern for the Christian is whether or not your plans explicitly or implicitly reveal that you are presuming that God agrees with your plan and will make it happen.

God hates that kind of attitude because it ignores the fact that He is sovereign over every molecule in the universe and it is Him, and only Him, Who decides what will and will not happen. In essence, a person who is making plans without a proper understanding of God’s involvement, is putting themselves in the place of God. Listen to James writing in James, chapter 4:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mistthat appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Boasting is born out of pride and God hates pride. Earlier in James 4:6, God says, Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Should we make plans for 2023? Yes, but when we make plans presuming that God will bless, we show our pride, and provoke God to prevent whatever plans we made. Do we really want to be in the position of God being against us?

By the way, it is important for us to understand that even the plans that God is pleased to bless may include trials and tribulations. It is a very difficult truth to accept but if we understand that everything that God brings into our lives is for our good and His glory, even plans that take us through trials should still cause us to bless God’s name. This is what makes the Christian life different from the Pagan. When things become difficult for the Pagan, he becomes angry and frustrated and unhappy. But if the Christian is thinking correctly, he knows that God has willed difficulties for him because the Christian is being molded into the image of Christ. This allows the Christian to lead a joy-filled life regardless of his circumstances.

As we think about planning, you can see how easily we can offend our gracious God in the process. Certainly, no true Christian would say that our agenda for our life is above God’s agenda, but we would have to admit that our behavior often does not fit with our theology and constant adjustments to our thinking must be made. This is why understanding sin and how we are to react to the truth of sin is so critical.

So, I’ll wrap with this- What are the plans you have for your children in 2023? Have you thought about it and if so, are you making plans that align with God’s clearly revealed will that you raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)? And regarding your personal plans, are you calculating any ripple effects on your marriage and children? It’s a lot to think about and I encourage you to think deeply.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Often recognized as America’s greatest theologian, Jonathan Edwards believed in resolutions. No, not the New Year’s resolutions that we are all too familiar with such as losing weight, making more money, or having more “me” time, but resolutions concerning his relationship with the Lord (BTW, you can find them online by simply googling Jonathan Edwards’s resolutions).

I could write an article just on resolutions- are they Biblical? Can they tempt people to be fixated on them? Does it become works righteousness? But I won’t. You know that my articles are already long enough! Let’s just keep it simple by acknowledging that God does call us to work out our own salvation as He works in us, to strive for the calling to which we have been called, and to fight the good fight. I love the word “resolution” because it has the flavor of being determined, unwavering, and persevering! That’s good Biblical stuff.

So, as the New Year is upon us, I’m suggesting a resolution for you that sadly, applies to too many Christians. Everyone recognizes that having debt is not one of the positive things in your life. But few people understand the depth of the effect on the lives of people and families.

Car loans and mortgages are probably the first things that come to mind but there is also debt from educational choices, debt that you may owe if you get behind on your utility payments and more.

But the worst kind of debt is credit card debt. Credit card debt is the kind of debt that never seems to go away. It comes back month after month, demanding a minimum monthly payment that never seems to go down. Debt is your master and like a bad master, he punishes you if you don’t pay.

And that master is also is powerful enough to control your life decisions. Need to get a new car, but you were rejected by the bank for a loan due to a history of late payments on your credit record? Ready to buy your first home, but can’t buy because your ratio of debt to income doesn’t meet the lender’s standards? Want to be smart and sell your car so you can purchase a car that is more fuel efficient, but you owe more on your car than you can sell it for? Debt is a cruel master and he is living in your home. He is a dream buster and decides what you can and cannot do.

This cruel master (debt) is also a killer. The constant pressure of having to keep up with debt payments can bring enormous strain on a marriage. What has traditionally been the number one reason for fights between a husband and wife? Money related issues. In addition to being a threat to your marriage, it is also a threat to your body. Stressing over how to keep your financial head above water brings unhealthy results such as high blood pressure, headaches, and digestive problems.

And one more lashing from the cruel debt master: Parents that are struggling under the burden of debt are less able to fully obey Ephesians 6:4. Why? Because of all the reasons listed above. Parents dealing with a debt burden experience many consequences that are not conductive to having the time, patience, and energy necessary to cherishing and obeying this great commandment.

As Christians, we want to know what God has to say about debt. Many people think that having any debt is sinful, but the Bible does not teach that. If we look to the scriptures, we will find that the Lord providentially placed the Israelites into a position of weakness/debt as a promised consequence for their disobedience.

But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you (Deuteronomy 15:4-6).

Later, you can read of their sad disobedience and the Lord’s follow through on His promises in Deuteronomy 28 verses 1, 2, 12, 14, and 43-45.

One other passage that illustrates the weakened position of a person in debt is Proverbs 22:7. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Note: Appropriate use of debt particularly as part of an investment in appreciating assets (E.g., a home) can be a good thing as long as you stay within the ability to pay without financial discomfort.

So, how do people get themselves into a level of debt that dominates their lives? The answer lies once again, in the heart. Debt in itself is not sin, but people do sin in various ways that results in them being slaves to the debt master. Just a few examples with their accompanying sins:

• The person who attempts to find their joy and security in having lots of material things (lack of contentment).
• The person who spends inordinate amounts of money on entertaining themselves (lack of contentment).
• The person who refuses to take the time to learn how to handle their finances and thereby continues to dig an ever deepening mound of debt (sinfully poor stewardship).
• The person who has to have what their friends have (coveting, pride).
• The person who needs to have what is “cool” in culture (worldliness, pride).
• The person who is addicted to shopping (self-control).
• The person who spends above their means (self-control, pride, coveting, lack of contentment).

If you have found yourself to be a slave to the debt master, there is a way out.

1. Confess your sin to God and ask Him to give you the strength for the journey out of debt. You may also want to share your situation with a trusted friend (or church elder) who can pray for you and hold you accountable for the next steps.
2. Make a list of your credit card debt with the highest balance card at the top down to the lowest balance card at the bottom.
3. Make it a goal that you pay off the card with the lowest balance first. It may take months but continue to pay it down.
4. Celebrate paying off that first card by giving thanks to God, clipping the card, and closing the account.
5. Move to the next card on the list and repeat steps 3 & 4.

Obviously, you will also have to change the things that you have done to create the mess. It will likely take a level of discipline that you cannot achieve on your own. Constantly go to the Lord for His wonderful grace and know that God will be with you every step of the way.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Note: I thought it would be helpful for us to take a break from JC Ryle’s book called Holiness to consider something more closely tied to the Christmas Season where there will be many opportunities to teach and model Christian living to your children (Ephesians 6:4).

Although the Bible gives us the teachings of Jesus and enough information to discern the heart and mindset of Jesus, few specific details are given about His daily life during His earlier years or His actual appearance. Therefore, it is easy for us to create an image of Jesus in our minds that is not supported by scripture. We may imagine Him as is depicted in so many Bible stories as generally happy, average in stature, and white; kind of cruising through His days with His hands up in the air, gesturing as He teaches to the crowds. We may forget that Jesus was and is fully God and fully man which means that during his time here on earth, He got tired and needed sleep, felt hunger and needed food, and experienced all of the temptations that we do every day, yet never sinned (Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-15).

I want us to think about what Jesus experienced on His birthdays, days that we now refer to as Christmas, but I want to be careful. One of the worst things we can do would be to make wild speculations that are not based in the Scriptures. Regarding birthdays, there are no mentions of birthday celebrations in the Bible, only celebrations of the reign of pagan kings. So, it is likely that the Hebrews did not have the tradition of birthdays- no gifts, candles, or cake for Jesus, and certainly no wishes made from the Lord! However, I don’t think we can say that Jesus’ earthly parents didn’t reflect and give thanks that another year had passed in the life of their Son. In addition, we can’t say with certainty that Jesus had 33 birthdays. Most theologians and tradition date Jesus’ earthly life at 33 years, but it is possible that the number may be off by 1-2 years.

However, not being entirely clear on those details will have no effect for our purpose of thinking about what Jesus did on His birthdays. We have enough clear truth from God’s Word to answer the question.

We know He was sanctified, or set apart. Luke 4:17-19 tells us this: Reading from the scroll of Isiah, He declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

We know He was sinless in his thoughts and deeds and was perfectly obedient to the Father’s will despite a level of Satanic attacks that we can’t even imagine (Matthew 4:1-11).

We know He progressed through the years and as it says in Luke 2:40, And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

We know He loved His disciples and others. John 13:1 tells us, Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

We know He was focused on the Kingdom work that He had been given to do as He says to the Father in John 17:4, “Father, I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”

And when were these things not on Jesus’ mind? Is it wild speculation to believe that there was never a time when Jesus took a break from thinking about obeying the Father, teaching and learning, loving people, and pursuing the mission that He had that eventually would lead to that terrible cross? Reflecting on what we know about Jesus’ ministry on earth, can we rule out the idea of Him ever taking the time to celebrate His life on His annual birthday or maybe taking a couple of weeks off for Himself?

I think it is safe to say that the Son of Man never wandered into doing or thinking things that were outside His mission to save His people from their sins and glorify the Father. Certainly, birthday celebrations would not fit into the picture of His life!

So, I’d like to take the aforementioned points and bring some application for us as we celebrate the birth and birthdays of Jesus- the day we call Christmas, and I am encouraging you to not skate over what I am about to say, but to think deeply about the implications for yourself.

First, He was sanctified- set apart, and so are we. In John 17:16-19, Jesus is praying to the Father about us and says, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

However, here’s the problem: Sometimes, we don’t want to be set apart from the world and we prefer to be more like those people around us. Why? Because we are afraid of what people might think about us or we are afraid that our relationships may be damaged. But, Christ came into the world and was more different than any other person could possibly be. He chose to enter into a world of sin and walk in it for his entire life. Because He was set apart in His teaching and thinking, many were so displeased with him that they sought to kill him. Talk about relationship challenges!

For us, the Bible calls us to deny ourselves and the idols of this life and be salt and light at every opportunity and we will have those opportunities during the Christmas holiday season. You know who’s coming to your house this year or whose house you will visit. You know all of the personalities and the history of how those conversations go when you are together. How about establishing a new tradition where you say something about Christ and His gospel? Could it be in an extended prayer or a reading from scripture before you sit down to eat? Think about how this kind of tradition can be a model that you children will bring to their children (Ephesians 6:4). From John 17: 6-8: “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.”

We know He was sinless in his thoughts and deeds and was perfectly obedient to the Father’s will. As those who claim Him as our Savior, we need to think about the things that we typically do over these next two to three weeks. Are there are things that we need to turn away from such as excessive drinking, overeating, and overspending? Think about all of the opportunities to discuss with your children how they should think correctly about spending God’s money (Ephesians 6:4).

We know He progressed through the years growing in wisdom and favor with God. How can we do what Christ was doing on His birthdays?

We can take the time to pray as He did in Matthew 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

We can take the time to read the same scrolls that He did. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

We know He loved His disciples, and we emulate that by loving our friends and family.

Is there a family member that you need to reconcile with? A hurt for that past that you need to forgive? Is there sin that you need to confess to your spouse or children (Ephesians 6:4)?

We can carve out some time to serve others. Jesus says in Matthew 20:26-28, “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Are there certain things that you typically do during the holidays that are basically selfish? What about thinking about doing something for your spouse or loved one that may require you to cut back on your own fun time?

Is there someone in your life that left the faith? Is there someone that is lost and hurting and needs to hear the clear explanation of the gospel from you? Let your children hear your concern and see the action taken (Ephesians 6:4).

Do you need to have a special focus on holding your tongue from making foolish or hurtful remarks this Christmas?

We know He was about the Kingdom. Are we?

Does Christmas help us focus on the mission of Christ (and our mission as believers) or does our Christmas thinking resonate more with the idea of merriment, gift giving, and great food? You see, if we are thinking like Jesus would have us think about Christmas, we would think not only of His arrival in a manger, but His birth in the fuller context of His death on the cross. In other words, it is the fulfillment of His mission at Calvary that magnifies the greatness of His birth.

So, am I saying that we should throw out the merriment, gifts, and good food? No, but I am saying if we are followers of Christ and are intending to walk worthy of our calling, we need to make Christ truly preeminent in Christmas. Grace will be needed and, in some cases, even courage. But know this: You were reborn to do it. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

I have been anxious to get to this point in our journey on the topic of holiness. Why? Because I want to address the danger of spending time on any one Biblical truth. Let me explain.

During my time as the head of a Christian school, I enjoyed getting together with a handful of men each week to study the Bible early in the morning. The men were from a variety of denominations and churches with different doctrinal views that occasionally clashed with what we were finding in the Scriptures. One of the Biblical truths that caused some commotion in our group was the truth about sin.

One dear brother with a particularly sensitive heart slowly grew irritated with our study and felt that we were being too negative. Thankfully, he did not reject the plain teaching from the Bible, but he began to become discouraged, and I think, somewhat depressed. He was being weighed down by our focus on the topic of sin.

As we have learned in just a couple of articles on holiness, sin is ugly, and we typically don’t want to look at ugly things. Similar to other things that we see in life like the homeless person, or a person who has deformities, or the death of a loved one, we take a look but quickly look away. If we continue to look, it plays on our minds in unpleasant ways. But sin is also dissimilar to those kinds of things in one critical way- we can look away from all of those ugly things around us without significant consequences, but if we ignore our sin, there are eternal consequences. Paul writes to the Corinthian church on two separate occasions and tells them to examine themselves. The first time in the context of examining themselves regarding ongoing sin prior to partaking in the Lord’s Supper, and the second in the context of them examining themselves to see if they are really in the faith (1 Corinthians 11:28, 2 Corinthians 13:5).

But here is the danger: if we spend time thinking about the ugliness and guilt of our sins, but don’t spend an equal or greater time thinking about our life in Christ, we will find ourselves like the character “Christian” in the famous book/allegory called, Pilgrims Progress, stuck and sinking in a swamp. For that matter, if you think long and hard about any negative thing in your life, you can find yourself swimming in a swamp. But God does not intend us to think that way. In Pilgrims Progress, a man called, “Help” tells Christian that the King of the land has placed steps in the swamp so he can extricate himself from sinking below the surface of that smelly, slimy swamp, and those steps are God’s promises. Important note: We can study any particular truth from the Bible, but we must always do it in the context of the entire Bible. Psalm 40:2 says, He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Speaking to this point in J.C. Ryle’s book called Holiness, Ryle takes the time to mitigate the danger of swimming in the swamp of sin. I can do no better than to quote this great teacher. After stating the need to understand sin, he pivots and makes these observations and encouragements:

“On the other hand, I ask my readers to observe how deeply thankful we ought to be for the glorious gospel of the grace of God. There is a remedy revealed for man’s need, as wide and broad and deep as man’s disease. We need not be afraid to look at sin and study its nature, origin, power, extent and vileness, if we only look at the same time at the almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in Jesus Christ.” This is so important, it bears repeating.

“We need not be afraid to look at sin and study its nature, origin, power, extent and vileness, if we only look at the same time at the almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in Jesus Christ.”

Reading that from Ryle, I thought of a glorious example of this is in Luke 7:44-48 where Jesus says to a man at a gathering, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

So, it is critical to note what came first- did she first love Jesus and then begin to think about her sins, or did she think about her sins, seek the forgiveness that only Jesus could provide, and then love Him for His grace and love shown to her? It is clear that recognition of her sin and repentance came before she could possibly love the King and to the depth that she could understand the magnitude of forgiveness, she loved.

I don’t have enough of what she had, and I want it. This is why we look deeply at our sins. We search out our history and our hearts and delve into the forgiveness that Christ bought for us at the cross. And we are called to do it not only that day we were saved, but every day. Oh, what love is this?

Speaking of Christ, Ryle reminds us, “His power to save to the uttermost the chief of sinners, His willingness to receive in pardon the vilest, his readiness to bear with the weakest.”

“In all this, I say, there is a full, perfect and complete medicine for the hideous disease of sin. Awful and tremendous as the right view of sin undoubtedly is, no one need faint and despair if he will take a right view of Jesus Christ at the same time.”

Ryle then moves to state for us some of the positive things that will come out of a Biblical view of sin. But, before we go there, I want to mention that this book was written 143 years ago. I am glad for Ryle that he isn’t with us today to observe the current state of Christianity!

Moving on, he says, “That a scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to that vague, dim, misty, hazy kind of theology which is so painfully current in the present age. It is vain to shut our eyes to the fact that there is a vast quantity of so-called Christianity nowadays which you cannot declare positively unsound, but which nevertheless is not full measure, good weight and 16 ounces to the pound. It is a Christianity in which there is undeniably something about Christ and something about grace and something about faith and something about repentance and something about holiness, but it is not the real thing as it is in the Bible.”

“It neither exercises influence on daily conduct, nor comforts in life, nor gives peace in death; and those who hold it often awake too late to find that they have nothing solid under their feet.” Ryle is concerned that, “Without thorough conviction of sin, men may seem to come to Jesus and follow him for a season, but they will soon fall away and return to the world.”

Ryle writes, “in the last place, a scriptural view of sin will prove an admirable antidote to the low views of personal holiness, which are so painfully prevalent in these last days of the church. This is a very painful and delicate subject, I know, but I dare not turn away from it. It has long been my sorrowful conviction that the standard of daily life among professing Christians in this country has been gradually falling.”

Ryle does not believe that we must do something inventive and new but do what God has called us to do in the Scriptures. He says, “we must simply repent and do our first works. We must return to first principles.” “We must sit down humbly in the presence of God, look at the whole subject in the face, examine clearly what the Lord Jesus calls sin, and what the Lord Jesus calls doing his will.”

“Once we see that sin is far viler and far nearer to us, and sticks more closely to us than was supposed, and we shall be led, I trust to believe, to get nearer to Christ. Once drawn nearer to Christ, we shall drink more deeply out of his fullness, and learn more thoroughly to live the life of faith in him as Paul did. Once taught to live the life of faith in Jesus, and abiding in Him, we shall bear more fruit, shall find ourselves more strong for duty, more patient in trial, more watchful over our poor weak hearts, and more like our Master in all our little daily ways. Just in proportion as we realize how much Christ has done for us, shall we labor to do much for Christ. Much forgiven, we shall love much. In short, as the apostle says, “and we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).”

That is a beautiful place to end this week’s article. Think deeply and I’ll see you next time.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

So, we are back at it. Back to looking at some additional facets of sin, and if there are scripture passages that teach us about sin and God is good, we can not conclude anything else other than God has them there for us to think deeply about them. Yes, we’ll get to the positives, but those positives are only as great as we contrast them to the negatives.

We have looked at the definition and origin of sin, now let’s look at the extent of this disease. Ryle brings to our attention two powerful verses. First, from Genesis 6:5, every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is by nature evil and that continually. The second, from Jeremiah 17:9, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Personally, when I read these verses, there is something in me that wants to push back, but upon further consideration, I must admit that I don’t even know where some of the crazy wicked thoughts I get in my mind come from. So yes, it is true.

He goes on to say that he believes that the greatest proof of the extent and power of sin is how it cleaves to a person even after they are converted. The roots of sin remain alive in the bottom of our hearts and like the mold in the walls of a house; we never get rid of it until our bodies are dissolved. Yes, it is checked and controlled because we are new creatures and the ultimate dominion of sin has been conquered, but we must fight a fight daily.

Concerning the guilt, vileness, and offensiveness of sin in the sight of God, Ryle says that he does not think a mortal man can even fathom the exceeding sinfulness of sin in the sight of a holy and perfect God. Because of our imperfections and weaknesses, we are only able to form the most inadequate conceptions of the hideousness of evil. “We have no line to fathom it and no measure by which to gauge it.” We must settle it firmly in our minds that sin is the abominable thing that God hates (Jeremiah 44:4, Hab. 1:13, James 2:10, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23, Romans 2:16, Mark 9:44, Psalm 9:17, Matthew 25:46, Revelation 21:27).

From Ryle- “nothing, I am convinced, will astonish us so much when we awaken the resurrection day as the view we shall have of sin and the retrospect we shall take of our own countless shortcomings and defects.”

Regarding the deceitfulness of sin, you can see how sin works in the hearts of men as they are prone to regard sin as less sinful and dangerous than it is in the sight of God and how ready they are to make excuses for it and minimize its guilt. “What’s the big deal? You are being too extreme, what’s the harm?” Those are not uncommon responses. And then, there are the children. Ryle says, “you may see it in the tendency even of believers to indulge their children in questionable practices, and to blind their own eyes to the inevitable result of the love of money, of tampering with temptation and sanctioning a low standard of family religion. I fear we do not sufficiently realize the extreme subtlety of our soul’s disease.”

Of course, this made me recall my own child raising years and not only the indulgences that I permitted, but the things that I actively instilled in them that did not align with God’s ways. I realize now that some of the things I introduced to my kids were things that I loved in my earlier pagan years. Some of the places I had been, the music that we sung, the bands that we followed, the movies we watched, the speeding down the road with an overstuffed car full of friends- good times! The things that we got away with, the minor crimes that we committed, all in the name of fun. Those life experiences made me who I am today. Or did they?

One of the experiences I had just prior to my conversion was seeing a movie that featured a charming story of robbery and deceit along with a great deal of humor, a splash of nudity, and fair amount of foul language. My wife and I thought it was hilarious and we couldn’t wait to share the fun with some of our family members. It was about a year later that we became Christians (myself, my wife, my 2 brothers and their wives) and had the opportunity to entertain my recently converted brothers and their wives in our home. After dinner, we cranked up the VCR and hit the play button. It was only ten minutes into the movie when with considerable embarrassment and shame, I picked up the control and hit the stop button. You see, the things that we applauded previous to our new life with Christ were no longer enjoyable and in fact, they were offensive.

Well, back to those other things that I did and loved prior to being born again. Was God happy with me hearing, seeing, and doing those things before I was a believer? No. And now that I had claimed the blood of Christ for my salvation and had been adopted into the family of God, was it any different?

Actually, for me and you to go on loving the sinful things in our pre-Christian days is worse. Yes, it is worse. Before we were blind and the devil was our father, but now we have been given eyes to understand the goodness and grace of God as well as a knowledge of what is pleasing to Him. We now know that those former loves are the things that non-Christians love- they are worldly things. Therefore, to go on holding onto the things that we did in our previous life is an absolute slap in the face of our holy God.

If you are doing this (still loving and clinging to the old things that displease God) you have created what is called a secular sacred dichotomy in your home. That is, on certain occasions, you are an obedient person to Jesus who seeks to please Him, yet on other occasions you practice what he hates and look just like a non-Christian. Furthermore, you are teaching your children that that is the way of the Christian life; a life that the Bible says is impossible to live for Christ (1 John 2:15).

In response to reading the above, you may be ready to reject the seriousness and respond with:

• You are being ridiculous! It’s not serious, just some fun.
• You are majoring on the minors!
• You are being legalistic!

It is at this point that I need to look to the scriptures and listen to what God commands. These truths not only apply to us as adults, but also fold into how you raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord:

Seek the things God loves. Realize that your loves will often become the things that your children love

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:6-8).

What you love and teach your children to love has consequences

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:29-30).

Music and lyrics matter

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:15-21).

Pursuing Holiness is no small thing to God

Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:12-14).

For the person who brings temptation to others, there is a terrible warning

Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin (Luke 17:1-2).

If you are still loving the ways of the world and introducing your children to the same way of thinking, I encourage you to begin making the break today. It will be tough, but God will help you to do it.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

So, I am about to begin this series of articles that tracks along with the famous book by J.C. Ryle called Holiness and I feel like I am already stuck. Here’s my predicament: I have looked at how Ryle approaches this incredibly important topic and I am quite sure that the reader of this article will not want to hear what he has to say. Why? Because Ryle begins his book with a chapter on sin and I am thinking, who will want to hear this?

Doesn’t every Christian already know what sin is? Will the reader just hear, blah, blah, blah? Can’t we get to the good part where we learn how to grow in holiness?

And so, that is exactly the problem with everything related to our growing in the faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ- what we (and I do mean we) want that experience to be is the complete opposite of what the Bible describes as the experience of the faithful Christian. We want to become more like Christ without experiencing the fundamental means that God has given us to do it. And what are those means?

Speaking to us through His Word, God wants us to think deeply about the condition of our own hearts, our incessant disobedience, and the cross. This is dramatically different from the modern day desire for the pleasant, brief, barely convicting, minimalistic consumption that we are now so accustomed to. No, God wants us to stare, not just look, at the horror of the cross. He commands that you carefully examine the depth of your grotesque sins, and He tells us plainly that His demands will interfere, no crush, much of the life that we would prefer to lead.

Remember the Scared Straight program? That’s the program offered by many states that would take a wayward young person and place them in a prison for a week. The idea was to show what their lives would be like if they continue on the path they were presently following. That experience often shook the young person into the reality that they must change, or they may face a terrible life behind bars. Ryle will attempt to do the same by placing Biblical truth before our eyes and he is praying that the Spirit will bring our hearts to a new level of knowledge and conviction- a level that elevates obedience and love for the Lord. He says we must, “dig down low if we will build very high.” And so, he begins.

Ryle begins with a definition of sin and here, I’m paraphrasing Ryle’s definition of sin: Due to the sin of Adam and Eve, every person born into this world is naturally inclined to evil and is not interested in obeying or loving God, and is deserving of God’s wrath and damnation. In addition, sin consists of doing, saying, thinking, or imagining anything that is not in perfect conformity to the mind and law of God. Well, is that comprehensive enough? This means that a person can break God’s law in heart and thought without any outward action. Note the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus explains that anger and lustful intent results in the same destination (that is hell) as murder and adultery (Matthew 5:21-28). Furthermore, Ryle says that we don’t just sin by the things that we actively do in our minds or in outward action, but we sin when we do not do what God calls us to do and cites Matthew 25:41-42.

How shall we think about the origin and source of what Ryle calls, a vast and mortal disease?” He wants to talk about this because we all tend to look to excuses for our sinning by pointing to things like bad parenting, bad friends, or a host of other outside sources. But no, Ryle rightly states that our sin originates from within us. It is a family disease that we inherited from our parents, Adam and Eve when they fell into sin in the garden.

But what about the children? Well, let me pivot away from Ryle to share my own experience and I’m sure the experience of every parent.

Before our son was one year old, my wife and I would struggle to settle him when we put him down for the night. He would be fed and seemingly ready to go to sleep, but as soon as he knew that we had left his bedroom, he would cry. We were deeply moved by him crying and as loving parents, either myself or my wife would go back into his room and rub his back or sing a song until he went back to sleep. We wondered if he would have memories of being abandoned by his parents, so we kept going back to him when he cried, proving that we were dedicated and loving to him. However, as soon as we left the room, he would start crying and if we did not go back, the cries would just get louder.

As this situation continued, we became more and more crafty about how we would leave the room. One of our strategies was to place pillows alongside the crib bars on the side and bottom so if he opened his eyes, he would not see us walking away. He overcame that by simply arching his back up higher so his little head could peer over the pillows and spot us as we were trying to get away. Eventually, we found ourselves dipping down onto our knees and commando crawling across the bedroom towards the door. We knew this was ridiculous, but we did not know what else to do.

Then, a friend of ours learned of our situation and told us about the three day rule. Essentially, the three day rule says that no matter how much he screams and tears your heart out in the process, you must not go backto the room after you put him into the crib. Of course, we did think of all of the terrible things that could be happening in his room as he was screaming as loud as he could and wondered if we were neglecting and abusing our child. But, after the third night of screaming, he stopped. We were not Christians at the time, so it was difficult for us to really come to terms with what had been happening, but it was clear that our little precious and innocent child was in fact deceitfully manipulating us every night.

Since we became Christians and trusted the Bible for ultimate truth, we have learned why every child born into this world will do the things my son did and those truths are critical to Ephesians 6:4 parenting.

Here are some of the tell-tale comments I have received from parents through the years as a Christian school administrator that may indicate a fatal ignorance about the true heart condition of their child. These comments from parents typically come to the fore when a child’s behavior is being questioned.

• “My child has such an innocence about her.”
• “My child has such a great heart.”
• “My child would never lie.”
• “My child would never be mean to another child.”
• “I think that my child will not be affected by the evil around him at this early age.”

Not believing the entire Bible is certainly the number one fatal flaw in parenting and for that matter, dealing with all the issues of life. But, number two is definitely an ignorance, or at the very least, a suppression of the Biblical truth that all people come into this world as sinners who have no ability to do anything that pleases God until they become (born again) Christians. Here’s the truth from God, not me-

So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6).

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12).

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind (Ephesians 2:3).

The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies (Psalm 58:3).

The implication for every child is that at the core of their being, they are selfish, manipulative, and capable of all kinds of lies and deception.

This clear Biblical truth is one that most parents have an incredibly difficult time believing and applying in their obedience to the command to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Your children are not basically good; the Bible says that they have rotten sinful hearts and the only thing that will change that is if they get a new heart, graciously given from the Lord.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).

Because of these truths, Christian parenting is massively different from the world’s parenting. How? Too much for this blog entry, but there are many good resources available in the Christian community. One that I particularly recommend is “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” by Ted Tripp. Another by Tripp is “Instructing a Child’s Heart.”

For those parents who believe and apply these truths, they have an opportunity by God’s grace, to lead a child to a true knowledge of Jesus Christ. For those parents that do not, they should expect to see their children become self-centered, spoiled, manipulative, and deceitful adolescents.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

There is something that has been weighing on my mind for years. It started in that first year of my Christian life, now almost 30 years ago. I had been attending our first church for several months and had a growing number of new Christian friends. As I learned more about their lives, it became clear that many were still walking in sins that should not be part of a believers’ life. Yes, they could speak of their salvation testimony and how they had repented and believed, but the lives they were leading were not dissimilar to their pre-conversion days. I understand that Christians don’t stop sinning and yes, I understand that the Bible teaches that there is a war that goes on in the heart and mind of the believer, but what I didn’t understand was how these Christians could be so comfortable with their sins.

I was deeply troubled and concerned for the souls of my fellow believers and concluded that I must make the situation known to someone at the church. I made an appointment and met with a kind, loving church leader who sat with me and explained the situation by drawing 3 circles on a piece of paper. The first circle was labeled, “those who are walking with the Lord.” The second circle was drawn completely clear of the first circle and was labeled, “those who don’t know the Lord.” Finally, a third circle was drawn with half of this circle overlapping the first circle and the remaining half of this circle overlapping the second circle. It was labeled, “those in progress.” He explained that those in the “in progress” circle were Christians that had yet to lead changed lives or bear fruit.

I was new to the faith and didn’t know much, but I knew that there was no third circle. Scripture had already taught me that Christians are new creatures in Christ and that real changes, sometimes dramatic, happen as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work, and that Christians are never satisfied with ongoing sins in their life. Soon thereafter, the senior pastor announced that he was getting a divorce and needed to think and pray about stepping down. To me, it was a clear disqualification based on 1 Timothy 3, but after a brief sabbatical he returned and announced that he felt God was leading him to continue in the ministry. Maybe the teaching of this church, with a fundamental wink at sin, was influential in his decision to not step down.

I’m now 66 years old and have been spending more time lately thinking and assessing my walk with the Lord. I’m not going to give myself some kind of rating but frankly, I am disappointed with my spiritual growth over the years. And when I talk about spiritual growth, I am really talking about the multitude of verses throughout the entire Bible that command, encourage, and admonish Christians toward greater obedience to God and enjoyment of Him as He conforms me to the image of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus. In a word, growing in holiness. So, why is it that I have failed to make more progress in holiness?

So, I’m asking myself questions. Lots of them. For example-

• Is it because I don’t know what the Bible says about this topic?
• Is it because I do understand the topic, but feel like I am doing pretty well in the area of holiness in my Christian life?
• Have I become slack in my efforts because I’m resting on the fact that God has promised that all of my sins are forgiven when I put my faith and trust in the work of Christ?
• I’ve thought about this many times in the past and have planned to make some changes, but why does it seem I never get to it? Is it because in my heart of hearts, I really don’t want to change?
• What’s wrong with my thinking? Have I been listening to something or someone other than the Bible that is keeping me from moving forward with Christ?
• Can God conform me to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) without me growing in holiness? In essence, is there a minimal line that I have to cross for God to be happy with my level of conformity?

And what does holiness have to do with the everyday life of how I treat my wife, train up my children, or think about my job?

• I’m past the child raising years now, but if I were striving for holiness, what were the implications for what I should have modeled and taught my children?
• And if I preached Christ to my children but they didn’t see the fruit in me that aligns with what I am telling them to think and do, was I a hypocrite? Will they say no to obeying Christ because they never saw much of my obedience to Christ?

And then there is this frightening passage from Hebrews 12:14-

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord . That is a sobering, straightforward commandment and a not so subtle warning. Every true Christian must know the implications of that verse. I’m thinking that I can’t be the only one asking questions. So, I am inviting you to join me as I pursue answers to those questions and others by using arguably the greatest book written on the subject by J.C. Ryle as our guide. The book is called Holiness, and Ryle is clear and straightforward as he uses the Bible only to explore the subject. It will take more than a few articles, but I’ll do my best to be as concise as possible. I look forward to starting the journey together with you next week!

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

This is the fourth article in a series of four. Please refer back to Chapters 1, 2 and 3 if you have missed them.

When my daughter recently suggested that I write about my background and testimony, I was not sure what I would write. God has done so many things in our lives since we became Christians that I almost feel like we are cheating Him of His glory by leaving so much out. In any case, here we are in this last chapter of a 4 chapter testimony to God’s goodness. If you are diving in for the first time in this article, I encourage you to go back and start with Chapter 1. And so, let’s continue….

We were still very young in our new faith and as we learned more from the Bible, we were compelled to make many personal and family decisions. After just a year at our first church, we were quickly getting plugged in to the ministries of the church and were enjoying teaching Sunday school to 4th graders and participating in Evangelism Explosion, when a bomb was dropped into the laps of the leadership- the senior pastor was getting a divorce. In the weeks and months that followed we were confident that we understood the Biblical requirements for elders and that the senior pastor would step down. He took a leave to pray and think about all of it and when he returned, he shocked us with the announcement that he felt he was called by God to stay in his role as senior pastor. We had no choice but to leave and find a new church.

As God weaves His world for our good and His glory, we soon found a small church closer to home that aligned more closely with what we believed the Bible taught. In addition to the church, we were also introduced to the small school that they were running during the week, called Cherokee Christian School. Of course, as new Christians we didn’t really understand the impact on the minds and hearts of children through education. But as time went on, we learned that what was happening every day of the week in our local public school was not God glorifying. The straw that broke the camel’s back was sex education in 6th grade. We tried to speak with the school’s leadership and review the curriculum, but our efforts were rebuffed. And even though the tuition at Cherokee Christian School was an expense that didn’t fit into our budget, we went ahead and enrolled them out of what we believed was obedience to the Lord.

Our relationships and involvement in the church continued to grow and soon I was asked to serve on the Christian school’s board. It didn’t take long for my convictions about education to grow stronger and I came to the point where I believed the necessity of a school environment that teaches Christ was non-negotiable. However, running a Christian school was hard. We were part of a small church and the school had virtually no money, no assets, declining enrollment, and seemingly a dim future. Two years later, the board agreed that in order to survive (not necessarily thrive) we needed to build a new school at a new location.

That decided, the challenges that were ahead were daunting and telling the stories of God’s faithful and kind deeds would fill a book. So, I will just bullet point a handful:

1. Our plan was to form a new corporation and buy land separate from the church. This was a hard thing to ask the elders of the church to allow as they felt responsible for the well-being and theology of the school and separation would mean loss of control. However, the elders of the church not only agreed to allow us to separate, but also offered to sell the school 10 acres of land that they had purchased for a future church location for a very reasonable price!
2. We had hoped to raise enough money to qualify for a loan. Working against us was the low morale of the school parents. Unfortunately, they had tried to build a new school several years earlier but were able to raise very little money and the money they did raise, went to the fundraising company! Just getting folks to believe that it was possible was challenging, but in the first 90 days of our campaign we raised about $600,000. Gifts were being given in various forms, including a house that a recently minted millionaire no longer needed!
3. We had momentum and were raising money for a new facility, but we had no other assets. I clearly recall how foolish I felt when we had to fill out a commercial loan application for 2.2 million dollars. Basically, no assets, no cash, and no credit. However, a week later we received the approval letter in the mail. I know that this does not fit a true definition of a miracle, but it was clearly the work of the Lord.
4. We can do this! Wait? We actually are doing it? This is what happens when you say you believe, but you’re still holding something back to kind of protect your heart in the event that whole thing fails. We had encouraged and cheered each other on to believing that God would enable us to conquer this incredible mountain of poor morale, a school in decline, and seemingly no resources. And then, He did it and we were flabbergasted.
5. Staying in budget. We could only afford to build half a gym, but when the contractors heard about it, they decided to donate labor and materials so we could build a full size gymnasium!
6. A Godly contractor and benefactor. Having a contractor that was a trustworthy, honest, and generous for a group of people (us) that were in uncharted waters was huge.

It was a couple of months into the campaign to build the school that we began a search for a Headmaster. Long story short, we could not find the man that we were looking for, so I offered to jump in for some time, likely a couple of years until we found a permanent replacement for me. However, I stayed for the next 22 years and experienced some of the hardest and the most wonderful times of my life. Through those years, God enabled us to buy more tracts of land, build a high school and add other additions so we could offer the community a fine academic education wrapped in a Biblical worldview.

Christian schools are interesting organizations. It is a unique blend of business and ministry. Christian parents come together with the school to partner towards a godly education for their children, but unlike a church, the members of the school might represent as many as 100 different churches in the community. Therefore, it is an opportunity for those who work at the school to get a significant insight into the theology of the local churches through the school parents and their children. And in terms of what the churches are teaching and how professing Christians are actually working out their Christian lives, I am not afraid to say that the state of the church in America is abysmal (https://www.cherishephesians64.com/state-of-the-church/).

As a person who passionately believed in Christian schooling, I encouraged and pleaded for Christian parents to put their children in a faithful Christian school or Christian homeschooling and learned that there are many objections to doing so from Christian parents and church leaders. You can read about those objections and my responses on the CherishEphesians64 website https://www.cherishephesians64.com/failure-parents/ but in a nutshell, most objections to Christian schooling are rooted in a love of this world. By the way, I do not believe that Christian schools are THE answer to producing Christian kids and I also don’t believe that Christian schools are some kind of holy bubble where kids can escape the world we live in. But I do believe in obedience. I do believe every Christian parent should obey Ephesians 6:4 and how you decide to educate your children plays a huge role in this.

About a year ago and fast approaching my official retirement from Cherokee Christian School, I still had no idea what I would be doing after the final day on the job. One of the suggestions that I received from friends was to do some writing and when the day arrived, it was settled- I would write and share articles about Biblical Christian parenting. What? Not Christian schooling? Sure, that is both my experience and my passion. But, upon further thought, I realized two things: Christian education is just a subset of a larger issue (Christian parenting) and Christian parenting is a subset of how the church teaches what it means to think and live out the Christian life.

Therefore, with Biblical Christian parenting as my lighthouse, I have seized on the great verse from Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. I believe that obedience to this verse has vast implications that will resound into the culture and for God’s glory. My prayer is that both parents and church leaders will move towards a greater emphasis on this wonderful commandment, but not just that Christian parents need to understand and obey Ephesians 6:4, but actually cherish the commandment because it comes from a good God and obedience can only bring good for us. Hence, the name of the ministry is CherishEphesians 6:4.

I hope you will join me on a thoughtful journey as I ask the tough questions of myself, you, and church leaders.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

This is the third article in a series of four. Please refer back to Chapters 1 and 2 if you have missed them.

God had given me a new heart and the transformation of my thinking and desires was dramatic. I didn’t care about money anymore. All I wanted to do was read the Bible so I could learn more and grow in my newfound faith. But my troubles were not over by a long stretch. I had $300,000 of unsecured debt, no money, and a marriage that I was waking up to realize had been rotting under the weight of a decade of my selfishness.

One thing I want to note is that becoming a Christian does not automatically come with a new basket of wisdom. In fact, new Christians, zealous to learn more and for everyone to know the truths of the Bible, often do stupid things. The first stupid thing I did was go from being a workaholic to not being motivated to work at all. Just wanted to spend time with Jesus. This was clearly an unbiblical approach to living and providing for your family. It was completely irresponsible and in fact, disobedient to clear commandments found in the Scriptures and served to push Robin further away. It will also make your spouse think you’re a lunatic and she began seriously working toward divorcing me.

She had gone along with my worldly desires for many years but found out that no matter how much she supported me, I did not love and support her as a should. Probably the thing that cranked up the growing resentment and bitterness was having to go back to work. She had been a stay at home since we started having children, but when I took on more business risk and debt, we needed her income. It began gradually back in N.Y. with limited hours as she waited on tables at a friend’s restaurant but had become a fulltime situation when our second child was only two. She hated dropping off our little girl to daycare each day but soldiered on. She was back in the physical therapy world, and she was very good at her job. As the months passed, she began to find her joy in the job, and it stealthily became her idol.

Robin was raised in a strict church setting which trained her to think that God was more concerned about the length of her skirt and other outward behaviors than her heart. Like me, she had walked away from religion after going away to college and at this point in our lives together, she was intent on establishing her income and getting other details in order so she could divorce me. Also like me, she did not see that God was coming for her.

Robin started having some trouble at work. There were a growing number of ethical issues that she had to deal with on the job and being a rather black and white thinker, she struggled to go along and get along with various situations.

Six months had passed from my conversion and God was holding us together. We had sold the apartment building and a house in N.Y., and I had gone back to working in the insurance world. I was flipping money and credit lines to keep the debt situation at bay and had never been late on any payments to date, but I was running out of time. I had to face the creditors. This meant contacting each one of them, confessing my failures, and asking for some kind of special arrangement. I dreaded those calls, but one stranger after another gave me what we needed. It was God showing Himself again and His sovereignty over banks, people, and every situation.

Brothers Jim and John and their wives were preparing to visit us in Atlanta for Christmas, and they suggested that we attend a church that we had often seen on TV, First Baptist Atlanta, and Charles Stanley. It had been six months since my conversion, and I still had never been to a church. Robin was antagonistic to any mention of my faith, so she was not interested in going to church that Sunday in December. However, Robin’s mom, who was not a Christian at that time, told our children to ask their mom to take them to church. Out of guilt, Robin agreed to the kid’s request and off we went.

My brothers and their wives prayed hard that day for a life changing evangelistic sermon from Charles Stanley. We were terribly disappointed when the sermon was about tithing. We each took turns glancing towards Robin during the sermon and noticed a tear streaming down her face. We learned later that tithing was a flashpoint between her mother and father during her childhood and Robin was being affected by God’s word. Her heart was beginning to crack. Three months later, after God crushed her joy on the job, she cried out to the Lord, and He saved her.

We were starting marriage over. For the first time, I began to understand what love was from the Bible and she saw the fruit. God had united us in a way that no human covenant could and now we were facing our troubles together.

In another instance of the zealot Christian striking again, I wrote a fifteen page letter to every friend and relative Robin and I knew and told them that they were going to hell if they didn’t turn to Christ for salvation. Now, I know many people say that sharing the gospel is all about relationships and that you must not come on with the gospel until you have really formed a good relationship, but I also think that that approach is often overplayed to the point of never telling someone the gospel, or at least one that is actually true to the Bible. That said, writing a letter that is essentially trying to beat someone into submission is not the right approach either.

Writing the letter to immediate family members and following it up with many impassioned and direct conversations, yielded particularly bad results. In fact, you would have probably classified our family conversations as war. The battles took place on an open battlefield and later settled into regular skirmishes, before reaching the “we don’t talk about that” stage. Although both sides have become civil in recent years, the division remains. It seems like we could have done better.

The third example of the things that new Christians might do is to immediately go into full time ministry if someone had made it possible. I’ll ask for you not to laugh out loud when you read that. OK yes, when He saved me I was $300,000 in debt with no money and no job and yes, my wife was still having to work full time for us to meet our responsibilities, but I just had to get a job where I could tell people about Jesus every day and I kind of believed that God would somehow make it happen. Clearly, I was also delusional on this point.

But now, God had brought us low so we could see our sin and our separation from Him by smashing our idols and now we were willing to give up whatever else we still had. We put our home on the market and went to Robin’s parents to tell them all that had happened. Without hesitation, they offered their home to us for as long as we needed while we set out to pay off our debts and live for God. God blessed my insurance job and as the money flowed in, we chopped down the debt very quickly. Within a couple of years, we had paid off all of the debt except for about $80,000.

We still had our villa in Anguilla and its market value had grown to $250,000. Anguilla does not offer mortgages and because we had it built with all cash, we owned the unit free and clear. I’m not sure how I really thought about our villa in Anguilla. Did I view that as a way that we could still have a financial “win” in spite of our formerly sinful lifestyle? Only the Lord knows. I also had calculated that we had about $20,000 in rent money being held by our builder friend who was managing the rentals for us and other villa owners. But then, we didn’t. When I asked my friend to pay the annual insurance policy for our villa out of the rent proceeds, he confessed that he had taken all the money. Anguilla had never experienced a strong hurricane in its history, and I couldn’t afford the insurance, so I let it lapse and hoped for the best. Soon thereafter, God sent a hurricane that did severe damage to our villa. My “ace in the hole” was gone. There was nothing else to do but try to sell it. After just several weeks, a native Anguillan who had a business in Brooklyn, N.Y. bought the villa from us for $80,000. Yes, we sold the villa for the same amount as the remaining debt we had yet to pay off. In my pre-Christian days, this would have been cause for great disappointment but now, Robin and I just laughed and rejoiced at both the precision of God and the goodness of God that He would use that hurricane to tell us once again, He was with us and would provide for our every need.

Five years had now passed since my conversion and God had brought us a long way. We were debt free, had purchased a new home, were making good money, and had the joy of serving in our church in several ministries. I had also arrived at a point where I had given up on full time ministry and was striving to be a faithful Christian man while selling business insurance. I had finally become content where God had me and then in a complete surprise, I was approached and offered a job working for Crown Ministries. The irony was not lost on us- Crown Ministry taught churches how to have small group Bible studies about money! I have read a good deal about the attributes of God and believe that there is one attribute that is never taught- God has a great sense of humor! Me teaching about money? Very funny, indeed.

I was so excited about the possibility of joining Crown but there was one thing about the job that took me back for a moment and that was faith funding. Similar to missionaries, faith funding requires the person in ministry to raise their own salaries. I went home and explained this to Robin, and you might have expected her to react with something like, “Great, another brilliant idea.” Yes, she was not in love with the idea, but this time was different. This time, we were trusting God that He would enable us to serve Him. I accepted the job and over the next couple of years, God provided for us in thrilling ways. I loved that ministry and had no intention of leaving, but we would soon see that God was preparing us for something else. Something completely foreign to us. Hope to see you in Chapter 4.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Who Is This Guy And Why Does He Think He Has Something To Say? Chapter 2.

Welcome back to CherishEphesians64 and the question yet to be answered, Who Is This Guy And Why Does He Think He Has Something To Say?

Before, I move forward in my testimony to the mercy and grace of God, I want to pause for a moment to reflect on what I had learned from my life experiences at that point. The answer: nothing. Well, nothing at that time that was based in truth and gives real meaning and purpose to life. Instead of giving thanks to God for all that he had given me in so many ways, I refused to even acknowledge that God had any part in my life. Rather than worship him as He deserves, I worshiped and loved the things that He had bestowed on me, namely my various talents and abilities to achieve my goals. I was the epitome of the Romans 1:18-23 person. I was dedicating my life to the things that give short term pleasure and never satisfy; things that have no eternal value but keep you busy chasing them in the here and now. I had no answers for the experiences in which I suffered loss- they were just fate or bad luck, and the plans I made implied that I was in control. Of course, God has no problem with us making plans, He just hates the idea that a worm (that would be me) thinks he can control His world. And finally, my takeaway on Christianity was that it was for weird people. If it sounds like I was blind to the truth and would predictably lead the life of a fool, you are correct. From 2 Corinthians 4:4- In their case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Transitioning back to the story, I’ll pick up immediately after we got married. Robin and I had decided that we would move to wherever we got the first job. Well, with her degree in Physical Therapy, she was quickly snatched up by a hospital in her hometown Philadelphia. We took a basement apartment near the jail in Philadelphia, soon upgraded to a nicer apartment, and quickly proceeded to do what all good Americans do- buy things that they can’t actually afford. We had a friend of a friend in the banking business, and he set us up with our first credit card. We had a family member in the car business, and we immediately purchased a sparkling yellow Mazda RX7- the hottest little sportscar at that time. Wow, we were really moving! After about a year in Philly, we moved back to my hometown where Robin got plugged into the local hospital and I started my career as a “top notch” car salesman. I have many stories about that, but that’s not for now.

In Love With This World

New York is one of the worldliest places on the planet. You know the song -if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But, you have to be on the lookout for opportunities. So, when a highly successful insurance agent offered me a job to make more money, off I went. And over the next handful of years, we did make a lot of money. We had new cars every two years (always more expensive than the prior ones), purchased a six unit apartment building, bought two homes, and contracted to have a villa built in the Caribbean on the island of Anguilla.

Just a brief word about Anguilla. Anguilla is located just north of St. Martin and at the time (1984) it was an unspoiled, non-commercialized island that was yet to be discovered by investors. The reason we invested there was because a builder that we had insured for years in NY had moved there and was developing a plot of land called Seafeathers. We had an opportunity to get in on the ground floor, so we jumped on it. The plan was to have our builder friend manage the rentals during the year and deposit our money into an Anguillan bank account where we could choose to bring the cash home to the states… or not. Obviously, another brilliant plan.

The Love Of Money Blinds You To The Risks

My business partner and I also had an idea about opening insurance agencies immediately next door to Motor Vehicle Bureau locations (Tag Offices). This would make it easy for new drivers and those with expired auto insurance to get the insurance and tag at almost the same location. We opened up three of these locations in N.Y. at select locations and invited one of my brothers to join us in running a third location. We had a lot going on and seemed to be very successful by the world’s standards. However, the wealth creation that was being seen by others hid the fact that much of it was created using debt. But, that was OK because everything was moving in a positive direction. We were still on track to achieve my goal of being wealthy and drinking Mai Tais on the beach forever sometime in our 30’s.

It was now 1987 in New York, and we were experiencing the effects of a financial crash on Wall Street. We were ready to upgrade our home but were discouraged by the ever increasing real estate costs and taxes. We had a friend that had been to Atlanta and was touting the greatness of the city, so we decided to visit. We quickly fell in love and two months later, myself, Robin and our three year old son hit the road and landed in Marietta, GA. I made arrangements to step away from the N.Y. insurance agencies and went to work as a loan officer for a national bank.

However, I soon learned that Georgia allows private companies to process auto tags for the public, so the idea of providing insurance and tags under one roof came back into the mix. After testing the concept for a year, I went into a partnership with a local insurance agent and created Insurance & Tag Express. Once again, we found ourselves funding a startup business with debt. The public loved the idea and at certain times of the year we had people standing in line out into the sidewalk. But, that was only at certain times of the year and the business began to fail.

The Gig Is Up

We were now married for thirteen years, had two children, and had been living in Georgia for five years. Robin had been forced to go back to work in order to support our debt load. Where once it seemed like myself and my business partners could do no wrong, we now could do nothing right. Financially, the house of cards was imploding. I had run up our debt on the 25 credit cards and personal lines of credit to more than $300,000. My mind and my dreams were being crushed.

Meanwhile, we heard that my younger brother Jim had joined a cult in California. Jim seemed to have a different path than the other three “Lee boys.” Tom went to Colgate on a full basketball scholarship, John went to Brown on a full baseball scholarship, and I had gone to Quinnipiac on a full basketball scholarship. Jim was also athletically talented, but the things didn’t come together the same way and after attending Fordham University for a while, he began to get, well let’s just say, distracted by other things. So, given Jim’s earlier history, we thought it was sad but not surprising that he would fall into some strange situation. John and I agreed that somebody had to go out there and save Jim from himself and John volunteered to make the trip. The plan was for John to come back to the east coast through a stop in Georgia so when I picked him up at the Atlanta airport, I had a cold six pack of beer ready to go. I met John as he came up from the gate and as we got into the car, I noticed what seemed to be a very bright countenance. I don’t know why I said it, but I turned to him and said, “Did you get Jesus or something?” Smiling, he said, Yes!” Remembering my position as the older leader brother, I kept my cool and said, “I suppose you’d like to talk about it.” He grinned and agreed.

When You Don’t Even Know What God Is Doing

In the months that followed, I listened to John as he talked about what he was learning and when in the car together, Christian radio and tapes from well-known pastors and theologians would fill the air. At first, I listened carefully so I could rebut any arguments for becoming one of those born again people, but something else was happening at the same time. God was continuing to grind every goal and dream that I ever had into powder. In June of 1993, I finally saw the truths about Who God is, my sinful and foolish heart, and the fact that I desperately needed to be forgiven by Him. I realized what He had done for me for so many years and how great an idolator I was. For the first time, I began to apply truth to my life. I understood and put absolute trust in Christ’s work on the cross for horrible undeserving sinners like me and was given a new heart and a new life.

Interestingly, I had not been to a church or had a personal conversation with a pastor or church leader. I had come to truly know God because he removed my blinders and because as it says in Hebrews 4:12- For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

And God’s word was not bound by geography or time. During a period of about a year, John and his wife in New York, Jim and his wife in California, a close cousin in Washington, and my parents in New Hampshire all came to know Christ. It was not unusual for us to call each other and gleefully exchange with tears what we were learning and what God was sovereignly doing in our lives.

I didn’t care about money anymore. All I wanted to do was read the Bible so I could learn more and grow in my newfound faith. But my troubles were not over by a long stretch. I had $300,000 of unsecured debt, no money, and a marriage that I was waking up to realize had been rotting under the weight of a decade of my selfishness. Robin was planning a divorce.

Hope to see you next time in Chapter 3.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

In May of 2022, I retired from Cherokee Christian School after serving as the Superintendent for 22 years. During those 22 years of interacting with parents and children, the Lord convicted me of the importance of biblically raising children and the massive effect the lack of faithful Christian parenting has had on our culture. Hence, I launched a new online ministry in September called, CherishEphesians64. The website presents a review of the culture, the church in America, and the Biblical mandates for the church and parents to cherish and obey Ephesians 6:4 (Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord).

I also write a weekly article and didn’t know what kind of response I might get, but after 7 weeks of articles, I am very encouraged. I am also going to take the advice from my daughter who said last week, “dad, you need to be more transparent and tell them about yourself and your life experiences.” That seemed to be exactly what I didn’t want to do- make this ministry about myself. But, upon further discussion I understood her argument. It is probably helpful to the reader to know the person behind the articles and have better context for understanding the writer’s point of view. So, here we go. My plan is to share my life testimony with you, maybe over three articles, and weave in the theology that has created my Christian worldview. Lord willing, you won’t feel like you have been invited over to my home to see old dusty slides of my childhood. Instead, I hope that you will hear me boasting in the Lord and will join me in praising His holy name!

Chapter I

I grew up in the small town of Jamesport, New York. I would describe it as pretty much a middle class town where most of the economy was driven by the local farming of potatoes and cauliflower. It was a wonderful area to raise a family, traditional in its values and surrounded by beautiful beaches. My mom and dad were religious, hardworking people who did whatever was necessary to provide for their brood of five children. My dad never made it through high school, but he had a tremendous work ethic and sometimes found it necessary to work two or even three jobs. Earlier in our family’s life, he worked in the bowels of the New York Times as a photo engraver, but when we moved to the East End of Long Island, he found work in the local jail, did some painting on the side, and eventually went to work driving one of those now famous brown trucks for UPS. My dad also built the home we lived in. A sprawling 3 bedroom, one bath home of about 1200 square feet that never seemed to be too small for the two adults and five children that were living there.

For my first eight years of school, I attended a private religious school and achieved what my parents expected from all of their children- straight A’s in every subject all the time. Because of that academic success as well as a behavior which appeared to be quite angelic, I was made president of my class every year and given special privileges by the teachers. Rather than respond with a heart of thankfulness and humility, I grew to believe that I could manipulate people quite easily as long as I showed them certain behaviors. These early years were also formative in me believing the Great American mantra that you can be whatever you want to be, which implies your destiny is in your own hands. Nothing like building a heart and mind full of pride and early humanistic thinking, thank you.

Approaching the high school years, I had fallen in love with the game of basketball and thanks to the genes that I had inherited from my super athletic father, I began to become quite proficient. I also had learned to set goals so during the next four years of high school my goal was to become the first member of my family to attend college and to do it on a full athletic scholarship. I finished high school with many accolades and did receive offers to play basketball in college. I was a “big man on campus” at Riverhead High School. The college I chose to attend was a school in Connecticut because the coach was friends with my high school coach. This later turned out to be a disastrous decision.

Arriving as a freshman at college, my immediate prospects for continuing as a “big man on campus” were good. The basketball program was the number one sport at the school, and I was going to be in the starting unit on the varsity squad. In my mind, I was projecting fame by the time I was a senior! This would have been a good time to have a heart filled with thankfulness to God, but I did not know him. After years of church going and religious schooling, I knew some things about God, but I did not know Him in way that made me want to obey and love Him. I was a hard hearted, prideful, self-centered young man. I was blind to seeing God’s kindness to me, His love, His provision, and His protection. This is what theologians have called, “common grace.” That is, the kindness of God to all people, even those who ignore or despise Him.

My wonderful little world did not stay wonderful for long. I plunged headlong into partying, alcohol, promiscuity, and foolish behavior. I was creating a new reputation, one that may have been enjoyed by some, but despised by others. Or should I say, despised by one in particular- my coach. I believe he was aware that many of the jocks on campus got a little wild, but when the school newspaper made mention of me personally in an article, he was furious and my relationship with him was destroyed. After three years of riding the bench and seemingly never being able to exit his doghouse, I resigned my scholarship and never played in my senior year. So much for fame by my senior year!

Something else happened of note during those first three years. Frustration from my dreams being hammered led to even more crazy behavior. Day after day, I tried to figure it all out and fix it, but I got nowhere. Then, one night during this time of desperation, I was approached by a Christian group that invited me to join them. I shared with them my troubles and they shared the gospel with me. I wanted so bad to be free of my troubles. I decided to accept Christ and immediately upon doing do, I was filled with so much energy that I literally had to run around the dorm building for several minutes. In the weeks that followed, I attended the Bible studies and began going to church. However, it wasn’t long after that that the people in the group began to seem weird to me. I lost my desire to go to church and I stopped hanging out with them altogether. Guess what? False conversion. I had been living in an emotional nightmare and was frantic to end it. It seemed Jesus was the answer, but He was not. I never asked myself and answered the right questions that the gospel demands. Did I see my sin? Did I see the need of God’s forgiveness through Christ? Did I count the cost? No, I just wanted a tonic for my woes.

One last thing happened as I approached my final year of college. I had already met a beautiful American Indian woman about a year or so earlier. Myself and a few of my buddies had just closed down the campus bar (yes, we had a bar on campus) and were roaming the streets, singing, and carousing like idiots when we came upon one of the girls’ dormitories. It took only a few minutes before a couple of the resident assistants came to the front of the building to threaten us with a call to campus security. And there she was. Little did I know that God had sovereignly brought us together and we would be married just a couple of years later. We finished our senior year dating and married just ten days after graduation at the fresh young ages of 20 and 21.

And we had plans. We knew so much about what we should do. Or, so we thought. The new plan was to work super hard and make lots of money. My basketball idol was ultimately crushed and now I had a new idol- money and all of the happiness that money could bring.

Stay tuned for Chapter 2….

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

As a new Christian (30 years ago), I loved to read the Bible. I just couldn’t get enough of it. In fact, I was so enthralled with reading scripture and learning more about our Lord that I neglected some of my God given duties (like make money and provide for my family!) for a time.

In those first couple of years of my new life, I would read just as much of the Old Testament as the New Testament and was thrilled to see how God worked in creation, the covenants, how He brought the Israelites out of bondage, and more. As I continued to study, I found that I was first surprised at the Israelites for their disobedience, and later actually became frustrated with their response to a loving and gracious God. I mean, how can you not trust God when He saves you through plagues, opens the sea for your deliverance, and sends you food from the sky for all of your needs? Foolish Israelites!

And it wasn’t as if God had not also provided plenty of warnings about mixing in with the rest of the culture and going after the things that the other nations loved.

You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 6:14-15).

At one time, those “foolish” Israelites were passionate about God, but as the rest of the Old Testament tells us, they chose to love the gods of other nations and consequently thought and lived like those ungodly nations. They had found loves and lovers other than the one true God, and from God’s perspective, were adulterers.

Then the word of the LORD came to me: “Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing (Jeremiah 13:8).

I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighing’s, your lewd whorings, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?” Jeremiah (13:27)

Well, it wasn’t much later in my new Christian life that I found out that I was foolish, just as foolish as the Israelites. In all of my endeavors to obey the Lord, I failed much. And in all of what I found in the world around me, I was drawn to love the things that God hates and has clearly warned me (New Testament and Old Testament) to avoid. As I grew in my Christian life, I became more aware of the never ending spiritual war that we are in and how to remain (not perfectly) faithful to the Lord.

How about you? We have to be in this world, but if you examined your life, would you see that much of the thinking and loves of the world have crept into your life?

Do you remember when you first turned away from your former life and became one of His?

Mathew 13:44 describes finding Christ like a hidden treasure. The man that found the treasure sold all he had to buy the field that had that treasure. I remember feeling that way when I found Christ. I held nothing back. I knew I had no right to hold on to anything. Did you think that way?

And immediately after that passage, verses 45-46 describes finding Christ as something of the greatest value. Do you feel that way about your Christian life today?

Do you realize that you are in a battle for your soul? Have you allowed the pleasures of this world to dominate your life like it did with the Israelites? Have the distractions of the world prevented you from the tremendous effort and dedication it takes to raise your children in the discipline and instructions of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)?

As with the Israelites, God is the kind of God that says, “come back to me.” He is full of mercy and grace and will not only forgive you, but also enable you to live a life that is completely different from the life of a worldling. Go to the Lord in prayer and confess your sins. He is faithful to forgive you.

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Listen To The ArticleBefore we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

It just happened again- a man has died and left his wife scrambling to find out if she has enough money to live on. In addition to the grieving that she is experiencing, she will now have the added load of stress and anxiety as she waits on others to help her figure it all out. Why doesn’t she know? She always left that part of their lives to her husband. Maybe she’ll be fine, maybe she won’t. So, death is the first of four “D” words that create very difficult financial situations.

The second “D” is divorce. In a way, divorces have often been described as a type of death. The marriage dies and the family is in tatters. We all know people that have gone through this, some with 4, 5, or 6 kids, and assuming the mom is going to get primary custody of the children, our thoughts immediately go to the question of finances. What will she get from the divorce? Will she have to leave or sell the family home? Can she and the kids survive financially? Does she even know what her husband was doing with their money? Well, that’s two Ds- death and divorce, but there are two more.

What happens when the bread winner of the home becomes disabled? Disability is the third “D”. That person has not left the home through a divorce or death situation, but their income is just a as much gone as the first two scenarios. This occurrence is the one that is usually not thought about or planned for by either husband or wife.

And then, the fourth D- Deficits. Unlike the sudden blow that can come from death, divorce, or disability, this “D” is the one that can run stealthily below the surface in a marriage for a long period of time, methodically eating away at the marriage relationship before it surfaces and attacks when the household finances have reached a critically bad level. Historically, what has been found to be the number one topic of arguments between married couples? Answer: money. Money both infects and affects so many things in our lives and the Bible has much to say about it.

I personally experienced a level of this particular “D” (deficits) many years ago when I borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars to start a new business. I’m not sure I had my wife’s total buy in on the business idea and as the business was trending towards failure, I probably wasn’t clear enough in communicating to her the fleeting chances for success. As we sank deeper into debt, she was forced to surrender her primary role as a stay at home mom and go back to work. This placed a tremendous strain on our marriage, one that we probably wouldn’t have survived had not the Lord broke into each of our hearts and made us His own.

So, why is it that it is so common that wives know little about the family finances? I’m going to suggest a few possible reasons:

• Some women may feel intimidated by the topic or feel that are not capable of understanding financial matters. However, I believe that anyone can have a basic understanding of the world of finances given the opportunity.
• Some might say they are submitting to their husband’s wishes. I am all for Biblical submission, but I believe that an important discussion must take place that falls under the heading of loving your wife (see reasons below).
• Some are trusting their husband. I would not suggest that you don’t trust your husband but trusting him is not the issue. The issue is whether or not it is Biblical for the wife to be informed and involved in your family’s finances.
• Some have impatient husbands, so they feel like they might irritate their husbands if they don’t quickly understand financial matters or may be concerned their questions may be “dumb questions.” In that case, I would have to challenge husbands to show great patience and humility and to love your wife as Christ loved the church by taking the time to have regular discussions and updates about your finances.

Biblical Principles That Apply To This Matter.

• Genesis 2 tells us that it was God’s intention to give the man a helper and that they would be one flesh. This includes how married couples view their responsibilities concerning money. Husbands need their wives to weigh in on important financial decisions for the family. As his helper, she can bring an important different perspective that adds balance to financial decisions. This does not mean that she has to be consulted about the smaller, everyday decisions, nor does it mean that the husband should be in lordship over her every purchase. But in the bigger picture things such as a setting goals and making larger decisions that may have a significant impact on the family, those decisions should be made jointly.
• Every aspect of money and finances has a Biblical component, so we need to see this as part of our walk with the Lord. The term that the Bible uses is stewardship. That is, we are just managers of everything we have because it all belongs to the Lord. Which also means…
• You and your spouse will give an account to the Lord for your joint stewardship. It would be wise to read Matthew 25:14-30 in order to feel the weight of the Lord’s view on stewardship.
• Parents who are faithfully or unfaithfully stewarding the Lord’s money will not be the only ones affected by those outcomes. Think of the effect on the children when families find themselves in this kind of financial chaos. When their home is being rocked by the implications of poor stewardship, the children are also rocked.
• Going back to Ephesians 6:4 once again, both mom and dad need to teach their children how to think about and handle money in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This happens daily as they see you respond to opportunity after opportunity to either spend foolishly or wisely. Be assured that your children are already being taught by the world through the media and their friends, so your work will be cut out for you.

Consider Taking These Steps

• Have an attorney write up a will written for you and your spouse. If you presently have few assets and your financial situation is not complicated, it may cost about $300 to get it done. You can even get a simple will done using an online service. If a spouse dies without a will, the state of Georgia gets involved and makes final decisions about who gets what and on top of that, it may take 12-18 months to finish the process.
• Begin an outline of how you see your retirement. This may seem foolish if you are in your twenties, but it is still a valuable discussion to begin to align your joint point of view and eventual goals that need to be set. If at all possible, open an IRA account. IRAs are one of the greatest opportunities for families to get an early start on saving for the later years.
• Get a subscription to the Wall Street Journal and begin to learn about the economy, investing, the world, and the workplace.
• Passwords- Husbands need to make sure that their wife has all of the passwords to any financial account. A good idea is keeping them all in a shared password manager software such as LastPass.
• Husbands need to help their wives understand and have a basic knowledge of stocks, bonds, dividends, or whatever you are invested in.
• Both husband and wife need to spend whatever time is necessary to discuss and agree on a unified strategy for their stewardship. Where to invest? What to invest? When to invest?
• Insurance is a big part of wise stewardship. Unfortunately, most people hate to talk about it. Life insurance for both husband and wife, disability insurance, homeowner insurance, and car insurance should be reviewed by both spouses. If you have never taken the time to do this, you might be surprised to learn things like you have no coverage for mold in your home, little coverage for your jewelry, no coverage on your car insurance for anything you own in your car, no earthquake coverage or flood coverage for your home, and more.

OK, so there is a lot that has been covered here, but there is one last question: Who is going to lead the charge toward faithful joint stewardship in the marriage? And the answer is easy. Men, this is on you. God calls you to love and lead your wife. There may be a good bit of work ahead for you, but the Lord will be with you.

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