I have always enjoyed reading articles when people are creative. In this article by Mike Anderson, we see a creative new way to look at temptation as well as how to better handle them. I hope this gives you valuable ammunition in your spiritual battles.
To read Mike Anderson’s post and watch the video follow this link: “Bet You Can’t Resist the Temptation to Watch This…!”
I have had people ask me on numerous occasions for advice on different topics that are not found in the Bible. They are wanting to make the right decision; however, the Bible doesn’t specifically answer whether they should take another job, get married, move out-of-state, or which college to attend. They want to obey and glorify God in their decision, but they just aren’t sure what they should do.
In His article, “Glorifying God in Gray Areas,” John MacArthur gives us seven sound questions to ask before making any decision. If asked and answered with a heart longing to obey God, these questions will lead us to choose wisely.
If the issue you are wondering about is not specifically addressed in the Bible, then it’s helpful to ask these questions from 1 Corinthians to help you in deciding what to do. Asking these questions (and others like them) will help you make a wise decision based on sound biblical principles.
1. Will it benefit me spiritually? First Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”
2. Will it put me in bondage? First Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” Any questionable practice that can be habit-forming is not wise to pursue.
3. Will it defile God’s temple? First Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”We should not do anything with our bodies that would dishonor the Lord.
4. Will it cause others to stumble? First Corinthians 8:8-9 says, “Food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” One should refrain from using his freedom in an area which might cause others to sin. For “by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore,” Paul said, “if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble.”
5. Will it help the cause of evangelism? First Corinthians 10:32-33 says, “Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.” We must think of the effect any practice might have on our testimony to the lost.
6. Will it violate my conscience? First Corinthians 10:25-29 contains three references to abstaining from a certain practice “for conscience’ sake.” And Romans 14:23 says, “He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.” If we are not sure whether an action is pleasing to God, we should not do it. That way our conscience will remain clear and our relationship to God will not be hindered.
7. Will it bring glory to God? First Corinthians 10:31 summarizes all these principles by saying, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
You can find more articles by John MacArthur on his website Grace to You.
I found this article by Tullian Tchividjian on Churchleaders.com. As Christians we will find living the Christian life is easier if we rest in the finished work of Jesus rather than trying to live up to our own man-made lists.
The litmus test that I use for myself is that if people walk away from my sermons thinking more about what they need to do than what Jesus has already done, I’ve failed to preach the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has done for me what I could never do for myself. And a lot of preaching these days is “do more, try harder,” like you said. It’s behavior modification. We come to church expecting God to give us a to-do list or the preacher to give us a to-do list. As long as we are given a to-do list, we maintain some measure of control over our lives. Just tell me what to do.
This message of radical grace, that “it is finished,” is difficult for the human heart, the sinful heart to grasp because we’re so afraid of control being wrestled out of our hands. So we come to church saying, “Pastor, my marriage is in trouble…my children are going off the deep end…my business is failing…I’m coming to you as the expert to tell me what to do to fix my own life…” And as a result, our lives get worse, not better, because we’re taking matters into our own hands.
So my job at the end of every sermon—and this is the grid by which I preach—I preach God’s law, and then I preach God’s Gospel. Both are good. The law diagnoses my need and shows me that my best is never good enough. So I’m always trying to help our people realize that they’re a lot worse than they realize and they’re a lot more incapable than they think they are. But the good news is that God is more than capable, that He’s already done everything we need for Him to do. He’s already secured in Christ everything we long for. So my job at the end of every sermon is to, in some way, shape, or form, encourage our people by saying, “Cheer up. You’re a lot worse off than you think you are, but God’s grace is infinitely larger than you could have ever hoped or imagined. It is finished.”
And what I’ve discovered is that the people who lean on “it is finished” most are the ones who end up being the most free and whose lives change the most. It’s the people who constantly demand to-do lists and then preachers who capitulate to that demand and give them to-do lists, those are the people who get worse. I’ve realized, and I’m only 39 years old, but I’ve realized the more I try to get better, the worse I get. I’m just realizing I am a narcissist. I think way too much about how I’m doing, if I’m doing it right, have I confessed every sin. In other words, I’m thinking much more about me and what I need to do than Jesus and what He’s already done. And as a result, I’m not getting better. I’m getting worse.
I’ve come to the realization that when I stop obsessing over my need to improve, that is improvement. When I stop obsessing narcissistically over my need to get better, that is what the Bible means by getting better. That’s why Paul was able to say at the end of his life, “I’m the worst guy that I know, and the work of grace in my life is that I’m free to tell you that.” I think the whole notion of what it means to progress in the Christian life has been radically misunderstood. Progress in the Christian life is not “I’m getter better and better and better…” Progress in the Christian life is, “I’m growing in my realization of just how bad I am and growing in my appreciation of just how much Jesus has done for me.”
Merry Christmas!
My Christmas list this year is quite simple—I want to Obey Like Joseph, Trust Like Mary, Seek Like the Shepherds, and Worship Like the Wise Men. When I looked through the Sears Christmas catalog as a little boy, I always knew I would get a few of the toys I put on my list. I also knew that I would get stuff that would never go on my list, you know—socks, jeans, shirts, and things that your parents put on the list. However, when it comes to making out a Christmas list from the Word of God, one thing is guaranteed; you will always get what you ask for. When we are living within God’s will and ask for anything in Jesus’ name, God will give us that gift. I’m not talking about cars, homes, or other worldly possessions. I am talking about the same godly attributes that Jesus demonstrated for us during His life here on earth.
So, what is it that you want this year? What is it that your heart desires? Is it salvation? Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Just call out to Jesus and He will save you. Are you in need of forgiveness? 1 John 1:9 tells us “if we confess our sins, He [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins.” Are you looking for peace? John 6:33 promises us that peace is found in Jesus. Are you looking for joy? Jesus taught His disciples that His joy would be our joy and that it would be made complete. It is only in Jesus that you will ever find true peace and joy. Maybe you are looking for rest. Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…for your souls.”
Whatever you may be searching for, it can only be found in Jesus. Is it happiness, satisfaction, love, a spouse, a child, a loved on to come to Christ? No matter what it is, just ask Jesus. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
So tell me, what is it you want from God? Will you ask Him today? Regardless of what you need, God is more than capable of providing. He sent Jesus to provide a way to Himself. Now, He is waiting to pour out His immeasurable blessings on those who will humble themselves and come to Him. Won’t you come today? Bottom line, all I really want for Christmas is for you to know Jesus!
Bob Pittenger 