Author: Charlie Garrett

2 Timothy 4:5

Charlie Garrett 2 Timothy (Written)

Thursday, 3 May 2018

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5

Paul now returns to Timothy as a contrast to those described in verses 3 & 4. In verse 2, he had said, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” It was then that he described why he should do that. It was concerning those described in verses 3 & 4. Beginning with the word “But” here is to contrast them, and to complete the exhortations now that the description of those people has been provided. Therefore, he says, “But you be watchful in all things.”

The word translated as “watchful” literally means, “to be sober.” Here he is using it figuratively to indicated having a presence of mind which involves clear judgment, to remain rational, and to steer clear of intoxicating influences such as passion, greed, and the like. He is to act this way in “all things.” No part of his walk should be overlooked, but he was to remain circumspect in all ways.

Paul then tells him to “endure afflictions.” It is a single Greek word first used in 2 Timothy 2:9. It gives the sense of continuing on through painful hardships which may seem to be a setback to the progress being made, but which really aren’t. Nothing occurs apart from God’s knowledge, and so even the evils we suffer are given to instruct us, mold us, and refine us – if we will so allow them to work as such.

After this, Timothy is admonished to “do the work of an evangelist.” This simply and exactingly is asking Timothy to “preach the gospel.” It is what he was told to do in verse 2, and it is reexplained to him here. An evangelist was to proclaim sound doctrine, teach properly, and stick to the truth – exactly the opposite of what those described in verses 3 & 4 were looking for. In other words, even if the world calls out for meaningless, misguided messages of mushy ministers, Timothy was to continue to evangelize with soundness. It hearkens back to Noah whom Peter calls a “preacher of righteousness” despite the entire world following a different path. Timothy was to follow in that same path as Noah. He, and all who follow him, should be willing to put the true gospel forth at all times.

Finally, Paul says to him, “fulfill your ministry.” The word here “is used of God’s power bringing the believer to maximum potential, ‘matching’ their true knowledge of Him” (HELPS Word Studies). Timothy is exhorted to bear the work of God to it fullest extent. Every fiber of him was to be exerted, even to maximum capacity.

Life application: Though these words are directed to Timothy, and thus to all ministers, should any believer in Christ do any less than pursue the path directed by Paul? This doesn’t mean that everyone should leave their lives to become ministers, but that everyone can use their lives as if ministers. We should all be looking for opportunities to share the word, endure the afflictions associated with that, and fulfill our calling in Christ. Onward!

Lord God, we are saved by what Jesus did. As this is so, how can we hold back sharing this good news with others? If we truly believe we are saved, that means we were saved “from” something. A person drowning in the ocean isn’t concerned about a new car. Rather, he is concerned about life and breath. Many are in an ocean of sin, leading to death. Help us to be willing to share the news that can get them out of it. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:4

Charlie Garrett 2 Timothy (Written)

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

…and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:4

Paul now describes the result of what will come upon those who will not endure sound doctrine, who have itching ears, and who thus heap up teachers for themselves. He says that “they will turn their ears away from the truth.” The Greek literally reads, “the hearing they will turn away.” The word is “used of the inner (spiritual) hearing that goes with receiving faith from God” (HELPS Word Studies). This is the same word used in Romans 10:17 where it notes that faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And so what Paul is saying is that they turn their spiritual ears from the eternal, beautiful, and life-giving truth of Scripture, and they turn “aside to fables.” The Greek word is muthos. In it, one can see where the English word “myth” is thus derived. This then is reflected in Paul’s words of Romans 1:25 where people exchange “the truth of God for the lie.” It is also seen in 1 Timothy 1:4 where he urges Timothy to not “give heed to fables and endless genealogies.”

This is a constant problem, even with saved Christians today. Conspiracy theories are held to as if sound and reliable. Evolution is accepted as truth. People believe that the earth is flat, they accept that one version of the Bible is divinely inspired and all others are of the devil, they accept Jewish tradition over the words of Scripture, and they constantly watch videos which predict (for the ten-jillionth time) the day of the rapture. There is little discernment among a vast swath of the Christian community because of turning from the truth, and turning aside to fables.

Life application: The more Bible you put in your life, the less time you will have to accept fables. Be wise and discerning with your time. Read! Study to show yourself approved! Don’t listen to those who would pull you into their box, and then close it around you. Pursue Christ, fix your eyes on Jesus, and live out the word in a holy, reasonable manner.

Lord God, help us to be kept from fables and conspiracy theories which have no basis in reality. Help us to not assimilate anything which is contrary to Your word, and to even carefully evaluate those things which may not be contrary to it, but which would distract us from a close and personal walk with You. Help us in this, O God. We are so very easily distracted. Guide us always. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:3

Charlie Garrett 2 Timothy (Written)

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 2 Timothy 4:3

The word “For” is given to show Timothy why he needed to preach the word, and to be ready at all times to convince, rebuke, and exhort. The time of judging the living and the dead (verse 4:1) will come, but people don’t want to think about such things. They push it out of their minds and instead pursue another path. Instead of caring about what God expects, Paul says that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.”

His words show the depravity of man in the presence of God quite well. He is speaking of people who are Christians, or who supposedly are Christians, who simply want to hear what they want to hear. When they go to church and hear a message they don’t like (sound doctrine), they get upset and leave, vowing to never return again. This is obviously something that is much easier in a town with many varied churches. At some points in history, the state ran the church, and the message was kept unified. There was little chance of “church shopping.” In some towns, even today, there may be only one church. The same is true in such a case as that. One is left with either attending a church or not attending at all. However, with the advent of the internet, people can ignore these things and find what they want online.

Paul says that there is a reason for not wanting to hear sound doctrine. It is because they want to come to God, “according to their own desires.” What this means is that they have rejected the word of God, and thus the God of the Bible. They have created a god in their mind which will suit whatever fancy they follow. Some people hate the order outlined in Scripture that defines men as those who are to be leaders in the church. And so they, according to their own desires, find a church that is led by women. The same is true with countless pet peeves. Some are sexually immoral, and so they will, according to their own desires, find a church which condones a sexually immoral lifestyle. Pick any immoral activity or false doctrine and there is a church which will meet the desire – drugs, abortion, reinserting the law, salvation with no expectation of holiness, the prosperity gospel, etc.

Paul says they will follow such perverse teaching “because they have itching ears.” They have it in their minds what they want to do with their lives, not what God instructs them to do. Their ears itch to hear that what they desire is acceptable. And so they shop for someone to meet what they desire. However, such an attitude is completely at variance with God’s will. One must take in the whole counsel of God, accepting that He is the Creator and that we are the created. It is God who sets the parameters for salvation, righteousness, holy living, and so on. But because they don’t want to conform to God’s standard, Paul says that “they will heap up for themselves teachers.”

The more voices who will validate what they desire rather than what God expects, the more reassured they become. The idea is, “Surely all of these wonderful teachers can’t be wrong!” Instead of going to the source, meaning God’s word, they rely on whatever the false teacher says. In this, they can continue to live out their lives as they see fit, and feel comfortable that there will be no condemning voice from their spiritual leader.

It must be contemplated that the direction of the church will generally follow the direction of the surrounding culture, or vice versa. The church may cause the people to turn to God, or the morals of the culture may cause the church to fall away from the truth. This is why those who hate God abhor Jesus Christ. Those who despise the truths contained in Scripture work both in the church and in the surrounding society to attack the word, question its reliability, tear apart the message of Christ, and exalt any false teaching which will diminish true Christianity in the process.

Life application: The ideologies found in communism, socialism, facism, the progressive left, and a host of other ideologies which form political movements are based on principles which are contrary to the word of God. When people from these ideologies can get into church leadership positions, they will naturally work to destroy the truth of Scripture through false teaching. The same is true with people who may be apolitical, but who want to exercise whatever false belief suits their mores. When people with such values get into church leadership positions, those who follow the same false ideologies will flock to them. Paul showed us, right at the beginning of the church age, exactly what could be expected. Let us pay heed and be extremely careful to hold closely to the word of God, never deviating from its precepts.

Lord God, help our national leaders to understand that right and proper morality stems from You, and that those sound principles are found in Your word. May those who are willing to call on Your name, through Christ Jesus, be bold in their adherence to that which is right, holy, and honorable. This is especially important now. Those who truly hate what Your word directs are found in abundance and are eager to quiet what is moral and proper. Be with Your people, guide them in righteousness, and may we remove those who promote immorality and divisiveness. Turn our national heart back to You. Amen.

1 Timothy 4:2

Charlie Garrett 2 Timothy (Written)

Monday, 30 April 2018

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

Paul’s “charge” of verse 1 is now given. Like in the Greek, it is quick and abrupt… “Preach the word!” The word “therefore” of verse 1 was based on Paul’s note about the Holy Scriptures of verses 3:14 – 3:17. His charge then is an emphatic call to take those precious words and to proclaim them like a herald. As he said in Romans 10 –

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

A person cannot call on Jesus unless they hear about Jesus. The source which tells of Jesus is the word of God. Likewise, a person cannot learn about Jesus unless they go to that same source. And so both faith and doctrine come from someone’s efforts in preaching the word. This is Paul’s exhortation for Timothy then, “Preach the word!” It is what he had spent his life since his conversion doing, and he was now passing the mantle on to Timothy to carry forward to a new generation.

He next tells him to, “Be ready in season and out of season.” In this, Paul uses the same root word, kairos, to explain his thought. It signifies, “the opportune time,” or “the favorable moment.” “In season” is eukairos. The prefix eu signifies good. Thus it would be “a good opportune time.” The term, “out of season” is akairos. The prefix signifies a negative. Thus it is “not the opportune time.” Paul is exhorting Timothy to be ready to preach the word regardless of the circumstances. If the house is on fire, it may not be a great time to stop and tell people the news, but Timothy is to be ready, even then, to do so. There is never a time that he should not be set and prepared to share the message of Christ.

From there, he gives rapid-fire advice concerning the preaching. First, he says, “Convince.” The idea here is “to expose.” Thus, it would be to convince with sound, solid, and compelling evidence. In this, it will prove that which is wrong, and correct it to that which is right. When the discussion is over, there should be no doubt concerning the truth and trustworthiness of the preaching.

Next, he says, “rebuke.” The idea here is to warn in order to prevent something from going wrong. As an example, a preacher may say, “You are walking an unsound path which can only lead to disaster. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the path which will bring restoration and fellowship with God. Call on Christ, and be reconciled to God through Him!”

He then tells him to “exhort.” This signifies encouragement. It is, in essence, to offer up evidence which will stand up in the court of God. Timothy is to use the Scriptures to encourage those he preaches to those things that will keep them on a sound, reasonable, and acceptable path.

Finally, Paul notes that he is to do each of these things, “with all longsuffering and teaching.” Timothy is being reminded that he (and all preachers) are to teach with patience and a gentle attitude. There is to be a spirit of perseverance while thick skulls slowly allow information to sink in. Sometimes, it will take saying the same thing again and again (and again). But the minister is to be ready and willing to just keep going with this slow, faithful, methodical, and repetitive instruction.

Life application: The main job of a preacher is to preach. It is the beginning of the faith for some, and it is to be the growth of the doctrine in them as well. It is only by the word of God that people will come to know Christ, and then to develop in Him. This doesn’t mean a tract cannot convince someone of coming to Christ, but the information on that tract must match the word of God, or it is not the true Christ who is being presented. Thus a false salvation will be the result. Everything must come back to Scripture.

Lord God, where are we going to learn about what You expect of us? We may think the answer is, “At church.” But if what the church is teaching is not based on Your word, then what we have learned is not correct. In the end, our salvation, and our doctrine need to go back to Scripture, or we have believed a lie. Keep us from assuming that going to church means we are OK with You. Rather, accepting Your word, and living in accord with it, is what we need. And so give us true teachers of Your word for our lives. Amen.

Sharper Than Katana

Charlie Garrett Special / Holiday (Written)

Sharper Than Katana
Sergio Voitenko
29 April 2018 

83% of all American people claim to be Christian (270 million), but if they were to be asked “Do you have spiritual peace or well-being?”, one-third would say. “No”!

How is it that 60% of Christians are struggling with anxiety?

30% are struggling with loneliness.

10% with depression.

55% with overeating.

11% are addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Two out of three Christians are consumed by pornography, and almost a third of them say they suffer from it; they are addicted; they cannot stop.

These are the sad statistics according to the latest surveys conducted by LifeWay, Pew Research Center, and the Cambridge University.

The research also showed that denomination does not affect the statistics, or even furthermore, these numbers prevail among non-believers alike. It appears as if all mankind is struggling with the same flesh.

There is a high chance that someone is watching this right now who is facing an ongoing struggle that they just can’t seem to overcome.

Did you ever ask yourself “Why do I do things which I do not wish to do?.”

Do you feel like you keep losing the battles?

Yet deep down you still want to be closer to God, you want to walk with Him as Moses did, As Elijah, as the disciples did.

I know you might be thinking “I’ve heard that before., every pastor says the same thing, “do this,” “don’t do that,” and you might say I’ve tried it all, it doesn’t work.” Well, I couldn’t agree with you more, and that is precisely why I am here. You see, I am not a pastor. I am a follower, just like you.

I was among that 83 %. In fact, I was among the 11% of addicts. I struggled with this since I became a Christian.

And seven years ago I found a solution. This solution is actually what many pastors do, but not many teach. It is so because some pastors do not always realize that, this thing that they do, this solution, is the very thing that keeps them out of trouble. Well… most of them.

Just like Moses, Elijah, the disciples and so many more, walking daily with God is possible.

I’ve got nothing to gain from this testimony. If anything, it is to lose my reputation as I’m going to expose myself, in the hope that some might relate and find encouragement. If God could transform a sinner like me, then just imagine what he can do with you!]

BTW if the intro didn’t peak your interest, I brought some fun sermon props with me. A big picture, paper with a hole, a magnifying glass, two goats in the backroom, and a Katana sword. So you might want to stick around to see how this pans out.

I grew up in a Russian-Jewish family in Israel. My parents believed in Jesus when I was still a lad, so I grew up in a Christian home, going to church every Sabbath. That’s right, not Sunday, Sabbath, we lived in Israel after all.

I confessed my faith in Christ at the age of 13 and got baptized the same year. Interestingly enough, being baptized in the Jordan river, in the Holy Land, did not seem to have an extra spiritual advantage on me, and certainly not long-lasting, because by the age of 20 I backslid from faith as far as I possibly could.

I was struggling with pride, alcohol, pornography, and a host of other things that would not be even appropriate to mention in public. I heard so many sermons in my life, and had numerous Christian mentors, trying to help me and advise me what to do and what not to do. Every tip they gave seemed reasonable, and indeed it was helpful for them, but for some reason, it did not bring any lasting change in me. I kept on tripping over again and again. Every time I would fall into sin that stained my heart with guilt, I felt further separated from God. Feeling unworthy of His fellowship, unworthy to take communion, and at times it felt like God wouldn’t even hear me if I prayed. And to cope with this reality, I became ignorant and in denial. I would still go to Church but I had long forgotten what fellowship with God looked like. I only knew what fellowship with other believers was, it was all about me.

My dual faced life came to its peak as I was sitting by the right-hand of my pastor in Nazareth, translating sermons to Russian while getting wasted drunk later in the nights, and brag about it to my friends in the military. I became self-centered, prideful, a user of people, and abuser of rules. And it was only the start of it.

After being released from the Israeli Air Force, I was hired by an American company and worked as a consultant for Hewlett-Packard, traveling the United States of America, driving luxurious cars, staying in top of the line hotels; an American Dream come true, I tell you. I thought I was Mr. Big Shot. But in reality, I was a nobody. My outward image may have enriched itself, but my inward soul was destitute.

I no longer desired to address my struggles, I embraced them, I said: “It’s not that bad.”

I got married and my ignorance started to fade away slowly as I saw the damage I was causing to the woman that I fell head over heels for.

She is the most wonderful woman in the world. And I got a billion reasons to prove to you why that statement is true. But only one reason is enough, and it rests on my finger, right here. The Lord had appointed me to love her. How? Just as Christ loved me and gave himself up for me, so should I give my desires up for her needs. But I failed miserably, from the very first day. I had no idea what love is, I only knew what she made me feel.

August 2011, one year into our marriage, despite still going to Church now and then, I came to my lowest point. Marriage no longer satisfied me, the alcohol did not fill me, pornography became an addiction, and I was on route to pour our marriage down the drain.

—

And then came along Grace Baptist Church. One sunny Sunday, in Aug 2011, we randomly picked a Church to attend, where a certain pastor, who does not like to take credit so I won’t mention Charlie’s name, was preaching that day. On that day, he just happened to give his testimony. His life before Christ seemed like complete havoc. But on that stage, I saw a new man, who had no resemblance to his earlier life. How did he do it?

He kept saying it was Jesus, it was Jesus. Jesus. But I also have Jesus, what is different? So as I kept on listening, I was struck by his passion for the Bible. He mentioned that he reads it daily, never missed a day, and in the past few years, he read it over 70 times. Cover to cover.

And then, it dawned on me. What do pastors and all of our spiritual mentors have in common? They preach. And to preach, they study the Bible. Most likely, on a daily basis.

And out of good intention, they relay to us what they learn, telling us what to do and teaching us what to look out for, what guard rails to set.

When we lived in Atlanta, we went to see Andy Stanley. His sermon was about “Guard Rails for a Christian”. Have you ever seen it? He gives excellent advice. But even though, following the advice, the do’s and dont’s, can be very useful, they do not change our hearts nor do they transform our minds.

So what can transform our minds?

The book of Hebrews 4:12, says @:

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The Word of God! The Bible. It is living and active.

[Katana sword]

You know what is interesting?

Proverbs 5 talks about lust, it says there, that it is as sharp as a two-edged sword.

[put sword down]

But Hebrews 4:12 says, [pick up the Bible], the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.

The Word of God, written by the hand of man, available for us today in almost every language, is sharper than any two-edged sword, even lust. It is living and powerful!

@ In Psalm 119, David asks a question: “How can a young man keep his way pure?”

And what is the answer? “by guarding it according to Your word.”

And then he adds, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Going back to the story. In Aug 2011, I took a few days off work, I opened the Bible and started reading. I did not stop. Literally. I did nothing else but read his word, day and night.

When I got to the part where Jesus says “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” I started weeping uncontrollably. The damage I’ve done to my marriage dawned on me. I can’t imagine how I must have hurt God with my actions. But I didn’t stop reading. When I got to the book of Romans, chapter 6, I started crying uncontrollably again, but this time from joy.

@ Romans 6:1

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

How did I not see the past tense before? Died to sin. Not dying. Not will die.

For the first time in my life, I understood that my salvation does not depend on my action. I was bought with a price, and my righteousness is in Christ! There’s nothing I can do to add to what Christ has done for me on the cross. I can only accept His precious gift of life.

But having been saved by grace does not help explain why do I keep doing things which I do not wish to do.

By the time I got to Ephesians chapter 2, I was swept away in His loving arms. Listen to what it says: @

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Notice the terminology, it says we were dead in “trespasses and sins”. Aren’t those two synonyms? Or is there a difference?

Believe it or not, in the Old Testament, there is a distinction between the two.

For example, [pick up two goats] when a sin was committed, the Israelites were instructed to make two offerings. A sin offering and a trespass offering. Why two?

Let’s take a look at the original Hebrew words.

@ A trespass is מעל (Maal). It has the same root as the word Above. Ma’al is sometimes translated as “act”. And if you combine it with its root, it almost sounds like ‘acting above’, an act above the law.

@ While the word “sin” in Hebrew is חטא “Chetta”. It means to wander away from something, to miss. To be in sin is to be separated from God. Like Proverbs 8:36 says חטאי חמם נפשו “He who wanders from me, injures his own soul”.

A trespass is an act against the law set by God. Sin is the state of the soul.

And that’s why we can be in a state of sin from our very birth, without ever committing a trespass. Just like one who is born in slavery is already a slave from birth, so were we born in slavery to sin. We were slaves to sin, but having believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have died to sin and can no longer live in it. This is because the state of our soul is marked with the stamp of God, the Holy Spirit; the guarantee of our salvation. So no matter how much we keep on trespassing, our soul is free from sin.

So let me try to put this into our modern day perspective.

Area 51 is a military zone with a fence around it and a sign that says @ “No Trespassing. Up to one year imprisonment and $5,000 fine”. If one day I am led by my desire to meet up with E.T., put myself above the law, and trespass that territory, I would then commit a crime, and thus be a criminal. The trespass would be the act, and the result would be my criminal title. A title, I would never be able to clear. It’s a title that stays for life. Oh, If only there was anyone who could take the charges in my stead.

After the book of Ephesians, as I progressed reading the Bible for the first time, the book of Colossians put the nail in the coffin. You gotta hear what Colossians, chapter 2, says in verses 13 and 14: @

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

The trespasses that I committed were like a written record of debt that separated me from God. Just like a man in prison, separated from His family. But with Christ and in Christ, I am a free man. My trespasses are not counted against me, my record is clean. I can still trespass, but it is not counted against me.

So then I continue reading and get to 1 John. He takes that coffin with its nail and burns it up so that there is left zero doubt, and full confidence in Christ. Listen to 1 John 3:9, @

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Wait wait wait.. I’ve heard that before.. 1 Corinthians 5:19 @

…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…

My trespasses are not imputed to me! I am free from sin! Dead to sin! Alive in Christ!

So, the question remains then. Why am I still trespassing and doing stupid things, and how do I stop?

@ 1 Peter 2

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

“Desire the pure milk of the Word”

Side-note: Isn’t it interesting that the organ that has the taste buds is the same organ that can emit words that are bitter or words that are sweet. Praise the Lord, for His Word, is sweeter than honey. And the people in this Church have tasted it. You are consuming it like hungry lions.

Since the day I opened this book, I have not stopped reading it. I have not skipped a single day. And I have never gone back to my old habits, addictions or trespasses. It all went away overnight. I used to think that Job’s covenant not to look at another woman lustfully was a myth, but I tell you it’s a wonderful reality. If your mind is filled with the everlasting and ever fulfilling perfect Word of God, everything else in this world would not even look attractive. Since the very first days of reading the Word, my relationship with Rhoda had taken a drastic change to the good. My love for her had been increasing daily, it only gets better and better, with every day, even though I do not deserve even a millionth of it.

I am not saying all of this to boast in pride, but quite the opposite. I’m saying this as a testimony of my weak flesh. I can assure you, If I didn’t set the highest priority on His Word today, then tomorrow you would find me in indulged in trespasses, avalanching down from the peak of the mountain of grace, into the abyss of addiction and malice. I am a weak man, and there’s no strength in me other than Jesus Christ, who Is the Word that took on flesh and died for me! So I have no reason to boast, but in Christ Jesus, who saved me from eternal separation from God and left with me two things while I’m still breathing on this Earth – the Bible and the Holy Spirit to understand it. He gave them to each and one of us, so we can live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

—

I’d like to finish with these thoughts.

More than 80% of all churchgoers in America do not read the Bible on a daily basis. They might be saved, but they are missing out on an opportunity of a life filled with the richness of faith, in which words like loneliness, depression, and addiction are never to be heard.

If you are amongst the 80%, I do not judge you or condemn you. I’m hurting for you because I know what it’s like to be in that place. And I want to tell you that there’s a way for you to fellowship with God. The kind of fellowship Abraham had with God, the personal daily relationship like Moses had with God, face to face. I want you to have the heart of King David, the faith of Prophet Elijah, Apostle Peter, Apostle Paul, Beloved John, Rhoda Voitenko, Christian Postel, Aaron Goodwin, Chuck Wenger, Jim Dwyer, Charlie Garret and countless more. Such life is possible and it’s beautiful.

I’m sure you have questions for God, and you might be praying to Him on a regular basis, but give Him the chance to speak back to you. His Word is not in the past, it is living and it is active. It will never pass. It will shape you and it will mold you. It will transform your mind and your entire life if you read it daily and do what it says.

So often I see Christians read a daily devotional as a substitute for Bible reading. Or just open the Bible, pick a few verses, and that’s it.

And I don’t blame them, because the chances are, there is just no one around to show them how powerful and effective the Word of God is.

You know I used to do that too. Pick verses here and there. Not even know the context.

(Optional Section)

Let me show you something. [Picture and a dot illustration].

I have a picture here. I’m going to cover it up with a piece of paper with a hole in the middle of it.

What do you see?

Can you tell me what this photo is about?

Do you ever look at photos in this way?

I didn’t think so. You first look at the entire picture, and then you examine the details.

So why did I read the Bible verse by verse, pixel by pixel, before I looked at the entire picture?

That was me before, but then Aug 2011, I read the entire Bible for the first time, I saw the big picture. And it is marvelous!

Open the Bible, start reading, and don’t stop. If you say “well, but I’ve got work.. kids.. wife… school… God gave them to me so I must take care of them first…”

I know it seems like you don’t have the time, but the reality is that you just did not set the priorities right. You do your duties at your work and school, and you might be rewarded with money or some years of relationships, which is good for this life, but it’s all going to be burnt up one day. Would you not rather seek the heavenly rewards first? What if God’s Word was your first priority in your day, how would your life look like then?

One of my mentors was Chuck Wenger. He worked under Billy Graham and produced the Jesus Film that was translated to over 1400 languages. His daily schedule looked like this: He would wake up 4 AM, study the Bible for 4 hours, afterward make breakfast for his wife and children, and then head to the office. By the time he was done with his business, ministries, and spending time with family in the evenings, it would be midnight. He slept 4 hours a day. He did that for twenty years. And for what advantage? By setting God as his first priority, he made himself available for God to use him in incredible ways to change the world.

@ A Civil War chaplain, E.M. Bounds once said,

“The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day.”

Open the Bible, read it, memorize it, taste it and do what it says. Yes, doing is difficult, especially when we are struggling with habits developed over many years. But it is only difficult in the beginning. I promise you it gets easier with every right decision you take, with every taste of this wonderful Bread of life, the eternal Word of God.

I’ll leave you with the Words that God told Joshua in chapter 1 verse 8: @

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

If you have accepted Jesus but have not found the spiritual peace yet, if you want to be free from problems that separate your heart from God, then make the Bible your first priority, always keep God’s Word on your lips, think about it day and night, and do what it says.

Amen.

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  • Next week Sermon (Hidden Treasures: Ancient Hebrew)