When You Face Grief

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him."

Nahum 1:7

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7

Entering the Gate

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.

TITUS 3:5

When you enter the narrow gate of salvation, you must do so alone. A turnstile perhaps best represents the concept of the narrow gate. Just one person at a time--with no baggage--can pass through a turnstile. God has ordained that people enter His kingdom singly, not in groups. You can't ride in on the coattails of your church, your family, on your friends, no matter how godly those people are.

God's gate is so narrow that you must go through it not only alone but naked. You can't go through the gate clothed in sin and self-will. As the hymn writer said, "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling." That's the way of the cross, which is the gospel. And the gospel is the narrow gate, which involves self-denial. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25).


From: John MacArthur, Truth for Today, A Daily Touch of God's Grace.

When You Feel Empty

2 Corinthians 9:8

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

When Feel Hopeless

Romans 15:4

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

The Only Gospel

Nor is there salvation in any other.
Acts 4:12

If you testify to others that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only gospel, the only way to God, you are not merely proclaiming your own view of right religion but God's revelation of truth. You do not proclaim the gospel of Christ simply because you know it, because it suits your personality, or because you want to be intolerant and exclusive. You declare the gospel of Christ because it's God's only way for people to find salvation from sin and eternal death.

You proclaim Jesus' gospel as the only gospel because He said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9). You testify to this gospel because you agree with the apostle Paul that "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

You're therefore in good company and on solid footing when you testify of God's only way of salvation to those who don't know Jesus Christ.

From: John MacArthur, Truth for Today, A Daily Touch of God's Grace

The Only Gospel

Nor is there salvation in any other.
Acts 4:12

If you testify to others that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only gospel, the only way to God, you are not merely proclaiming your own view of right religion but God's revelation of truth. You do not proclaim the gospel of Christ simply because you know it, because it suits your personality, or because you want to be intolerant and exclusive. You declare the gospel of Christ because it's God's only way for people to find salvation from sin and eternal death.

You proclaim Jesus' gospel as the only gospel because He said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9). You testify to this gospel because you agree with the apostle Paul that "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

You're therefore in good company and on solid footing when you testify of God's only way of salvation to those who don't know Jesus Christ.

From: John MacArthur, Truth for Today, A Daily Touch of God's Grace

Insights for Living: Healing, Part One

Healing, Part One
by Charles R. Swindoll

Matthew 9:35

"Have you heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?"

That question, found in a small booklet, has been asked and answered thousands---perhaps millions---of times in our generation. These "laws" have been used by God to introduce His plan of love and forgiveness to countless numbers of people who had no idea how to have a meaningful relationship with Him.

I have a similar question. It is designed to introduce some foundational facts to those who are confused over the painful circumstance they are enduring . . . and how the whole issue of healing applies to them.

"Have you heard of the Five Suffering Laws?"

That question appears in no booklet---but it should! These "laws" will do more to help the hurting and erase their confusion than perhaps anything else they could read. All five are well supported in Scripture. We'll look at the first four today and the final one tomorrow.

Law One: There are two classifications of sin.

1. Original sin . . . the inherited sin nature traceable to Adam, original "head" of the human race (Romans 5:12a).

2. Personal sins . . . individual acts of wrong we regularly commit (Romans 3:23).

Because we all have an inherited sin nature (the root), we commit sins (the fruit).

Law Two: Original sin introduced suffering, illness, and death to the human race (Romans 5:12b).

Had there never been the presence of original sin in the Garden of Eden, mankind would never have known sickness or death. In the broadest sense of the word, all sickness and suffering today are the result of original sin. Literally, the Lord told Adam "in the day that you eat from it, dying you will die" (Genesis 2:17).

Law Three: Sometimes there is a direct relationship between personal sins and sickness.

David testified of such in Psalm 32:3-5 and 38:3-5. Paul warned that some of the Corinthian believers were "weak and sick" and a number of them were dead (1 Corinthians 11:27-30) because they were sinning.

Law Four: Sometimes there is no relationship between personal sins and sickness.

Some are born with afflictions---suffering before they ever reach the age of committing sins (John 9:1-3; Acts 3:1-2). Others, like Job (1:1-5), are living upright lives when suffering occurs. Jesus Himself "sympathizes with our weaknesses" (Hebrews 4:15) rather than rebuking us because we have sinned. Remember, "although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Jesus never committed sins, yet He suffered.

Tomorrow, I'll share with you Law Five and some significant (dare I say, life-changing?) conclusions we can draw from these "laws" of suffering.

Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright � 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

What Does Being "BORN AGAIN" Mean?

What does being born again mean? Do I have to be born again in order to be Christian?

Jesus Christ used the term "born again" in a conversation with Nicodemus, a high-ranking member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, who came to Him by night (see John 3:1-18). When Nicodemus said, "Rabbi, we know You are a teacher come from God," what he really saying was, "Teach me how I can find God."

Jesus said, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Later in the conversation, Jesus also said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

The moment you turn to God, and put your trust in Christ, the sacrificial death of Jesus places you in a right relationship with Him. Literally you find God -- His Spirit makes this truth real to you. And you know that you are born again.

This transformation in us by the Spirit of God is like a second birth. One result is that the law of God becomes written upon our hearts. We become internally motivated by the Spirit to obey Him, and do good to others out of sheer thankfulness to God.

You have to be born again in order to be Christian, as Jesus Himself teaches. You do not become born again by joining a Christian fellowship or a church denomination, or by inheritance. You can be born again because of the sacrificial death of Jesus. It is not repentance that saves you. Rather, repentance is the sign that you have realized what God in Christ has done for you.

From: CBN International Ministries & OMF Literature

What are the Secrets of Miracles in our Lives?

Our physical world seems to be approaching the outer limits of survival through its violation of the laws of the spiritual world. But there is what the writer call a law of miracles. It governs the question of God's willingness to suspend His natural order in order to accomplish His purpose. When He does, the result is a miracle, an overruling of the natural laws through which God usually works.

Jesus Christ introduced a new order of normality ar the Day of Pentecost -- miracles were to be normal, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus expected His followers to do even greater things than He did (John 14:12). We need to understand the secrets of miracles and act on them.

Firstly, have faith in God. Believe that He exists. Trust Him and expect Him to enter into communion with you, to show you His will and purpose. Next, recognize that God has total authority over demons, angels, circumstances and all of the physical world (see John 14:12). Thirdly, learn God's will in any given moment by regularly spending time with Him. Pray and ask, "Lord, what are You doing in this situation? What do You want to accomplish?" Then agree with whatever He wants to bring about.

Fourthly, take your eyes off the circumstances and the impossibilities. Look upon God and the possibilities. Don't consider that you have no money in the bank, or that the whole world is against you, or that the task assigned to you is impossible. Rather, grow strong in faith, giving glory to God.

Fifthly, be fully convinced that what God has said is going to happen. Such a belief cannot come from human effort. It comes only from depending on God, for "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17). God's help comes when we trust Him, praise Him, and read His Word. Then His Holy Spirit quickens His Word in our hearts, and we hear Him speaking to our spirits: "This is what I am going to do. Believe it!"

Lastly, forgive. Lack of forgiveness is the major hindrance to the working of miracles in the visible world. Forgive all those who have wronged you to the point where you literally feel cleansed of grudges, resentment and bitterness, and you are actually praying for them. Husband, wife, children, parents, friends, officemates, etc. -- forgive them all. For without forgiveness we will wee no miracles.

Psalm 118:6,8

"De Heer is aan mijn kant, ik zal niet vrezen. Wat kan de mens doen om mij? Het is beter om het vertrouwen in de Heer, dan om het vertrouwen in de mens."

Insights for Today: Say It Well

Say It Well
by Charles R. Swindoll

Acts 17:22-31

Paul was a misfit. When it came to a place like Athens, the crusty apostle clashed with the decor.

Made no sense at all. The classic oil-and-water combo. A monotheistic Jew smack dab in the middle of polytheistic Gentiles. Narrow-minded former Pharisee surrounded by broad-minded philosophers. One idol-hating Christian among many idol-worshiping pagans. Outnumbered. Outvoted. Outshouted. But not outwitted.

Those eggheads may have felt superior. They may have looked upon this little runt from Tarsus about like a grizzly views a dirt dauber, but when he opened his mouth and started preaching, they closed theirs and started listening. It wasn't very long before they realized this guy hadn't just fallen off some turnip truck. When it came to communicating, Paul had his stuff together. He was a class act.

The extemporaneous excellence of a message like the one in Acts 17:22-31 makes every preacher's and teacher's mouth water. Un-intimidated by their brilliance, unimpressed with their position, and singularly unprovoked over their opinion of him, the apostle captured the attention of the Stoics and Epicureans by means of a genius game plan. With the confidence and deliberateness of a veteran returning to the heat of battle, the seasoned warrior tightened the belt on his toga and took charge. He covered every base necessary for quality communication.

Ever analyzed his Mars Hill message? Allow me:

• He started with a jolting attention-getter.
  "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects." (v. 22)
• He then used a relevant illustration to amplify his opening remark.
  "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.'" (v. 23a)
• Next, he employed an interesting yet brief transition into the body of his speech.
  "Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." (v. 23b)
• At the heart of his speech, he presented sound theology in clear, easily understood terms.
  "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him." (v. 24-27a)
• He held their attention by making it personal . . . he even quoted from their own literature.
  "though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'" (v. 27b-28)
• He then challenged them with a theological truth woven neatly into Athenian culture.
  "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man." (v. 29)
• Finally, he "drove home" the application ("all everywhere should repent") by a declaration of two inescapable facts (God's judgment, Jesus' resurrection).
  "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (v. 30-31)

Put 'er down, friend. That's quality communication . . . all the ingredients necessary to guarantee edge-of-the-seat interest. The preacher could have gone longer (the speech didn't last two minutes), but the philosophers had gotten enough. Soon as they heard him mention the resurrection, end of Paul's speech. But not end of God's speaking. Some sneered. Others said they'd be back again. A few believed. Typical response. The song had ended, but the melody lingered on.

It's the same today. A mixed bag Sunday after Sunday. Change the particulars and you've got a similar setting in places the world over. One speaks, many listen, some believe. How easy for the spokesperson to be intimidated . . . to think, like Andrew, "But what are these among so many?" . . . to forget that empty philosophy doesn't stand a chance against biblical theology. It's the timeless David-and-Goliath principle---one plus God . . . aw, you know the equation.

But wait. A warning is in order. Before we rush to judgment and claim a pushover victory regardless, let's understand that the strategy calls for quality. It's not as simple as dumping a half-ton load of religious whine, a hodgepodge of verbs, nouns, and adjectives, but preparing the heart, sharpening the mind, delivering the goods with care, sensitivity, timing, and clarity. It's the difference between slopping hogs and feeding sheep.

Occasionally, it's good for communicators to go back to Athens. To blow the dust off those ancient idols in the street and hear again the voice of the preacher as it echoes across that historic wind-swept hill. To look into those dark eyes and to feel again his passion. Then to trace the incomparable heritage of God's mouthpieces down through the centuries.

What a band of magnificent misfits!

If you are one of them, study hard, pray like mad, think it through, tell the truth, then stand tall. But while you're on your feet, don't clothe the riches of Christ in rags. Say it well.

Does God Always Heal the Sick When we ask Him to do So?

During Jesus' earthly ministry He never refused anyone who asked for healing. Therefore we may assume that it is God's perfect will to heal everyone. Jesus knew whether a sickness was caused by evil spirits, unconfessed sin, organic dysfunction or if it was a psychosomatic disorder. Of it was a disease, He would speak to it; if it was caused by a demon, He would cast out the demon; if it was caused by sin, He would forgive the sinner.

God's promises in the Bible are accompanied by a provision -- and this provision must be met before the blessing comes. In healing, the provision is FAITH. On the other hand, one may be full of faith that he will be healed yet he isn't. For instance, the apostle Paul entreated God three times to take away to take away his "thorn n the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are not man's ways. We can only pray that He will bring down his redemptive purpose for the sick.

Others are sick because they constantly disregard the laws for good health. They are not likely to recover until they stop living wrongly. For instance, a former chain smoker told how his night coughs have stopped; he now breathes easier, and his food tastes better.

There are people who enjoyed being sick -- their sickness is used as an excuse not to face up to life. They are not healed because they don't want to be. Others harbor unconfessed sin. They seem holy and righteous on the surface, but are filled with resentment inside. There are still others who are sick because of demonic activity. Prayer for healing will not work for them because the demon has to be addressed and cast out, usually by someone else.

And in certain cases healing does not take place because the individual's spirit and mind are not in a condition where he or she can be receptive to what God offers. Others are so overcome by shock, grief, desolation, or pain that it is impossible for them to focus on the healing from God.

The Bible (see Revelation 21:4) promises that in the age to come, God will do away with every tear from our eyes. All healing will, at last, be complete and permanent.

Seances, Ouija Boards and Fortune Telling Lead to Demonic Possession

A seance is a meeting of a group of people who attempt to communicate with the spirit world or souls of dead people through the use of a medium. Medium is the occult term for one who acts as an intermediary between the spirit world and the physical world. He usually claims to have a spirit-guide who is his initial contact in the spirit world. Mediums make use of various objects such as ouija boards, drawings, rapping, noises, automatic writing, etc.

An oiuja board is a small game board containing numbers and letters used by spiritists to contact the souls of the dead. Participants sit at a table around the ouija board and place hands on a "pointer," which is then moved around the board to various letters by the "visiting spirit(s)." The resulting message is supposedly the message desired from the supernatural spirit world.

Fortunetelling is of the three branches of the occult. The other branches are black magic ("witchcraft" and "sorcery" are synonymous terms) and spiritism. Fortune telling involves divination and takes such forms such as horoscopes, crystal ball gazing, palmistry, reading of tarrot cards, numerology, psychometry (ability to foretell a person's future by possessing an object belonging to that person).

Can the dead communicate with the living? According to Scriptures, it is not possible to contact the spirits of the dead. Jesus made this clear in the account of the rich man and Lazaruz in Luke 16:19-31. The Bible condemns all forms of witchcraft, including sorcery, astrology, and reading signs in human and animal entrails.

"You shall not ... practice divination or soothsaying... Do not turn to mediums or spiritists: do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord you God."

Leviticus 19:26, 31

"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead... For those nations, which you shall dis-possess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so."

Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, 14

All occult practices are sins against God; the Bible forbids their uses. They are also potential sources of demonization.

Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?

(From OMF Literature & CBN International Ministries)

The Bible does not use the term "demon-possessed." The word used is "demonized" or "one with a demon." Demonization is in different degrees of severity.

The writer had an incident while staying in a motel near Seattle, Washington. An awful depression seized him one morning when he was in that stage between sleep and walking. He felt that everyone was against him, that people around him were failing, and that everything he was doing was falling to pieces. Discouragement overwhelmed him like a dark cloud.

As he struggled to get up, it dawned on him that he was under demonic attack. He took control over it and said: "Satan, in the Name of Jesus, I cast you fourth." His mind was free and his despair was gone the minute he said that. The Seattle-Tacoma area, he discovered later, led the US in the number of suicides. And the spirit that was coming upon him was a suicidal spirit -- the evil influence that would lead a person to such depression that he would wish to kill himself. He was in an area where many had been gripped by this kind of demon.

Had he not recognized what he was dealing with, he could have gone into a very deep depression that would have been hard to get out of. Even Spirit-filled Christians are subject to this kind of demonic activity upon their minds or in their bodies (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

If our spirits are joined to Jesus Christ, we should believe that there is no way a demon can possess them. The believer is already regenerated, justified and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is stronger than demons (see 1 John 4:4, Revelation 12:11). There is simply no room for a demonic spirit to reside there.

Why is There Suffering in the World?

Everyone of us, at one time or another, has suffered. Accidents, disease, crimes, death, earthquakes, typhoons inflict untold pain, trauma and suffering. Much suffering is satanic in origin. Satan, the Adversary, delights in hurting us, and in trying to turn us away from God.

Suffering is also caused by our rebellion against God, and by the evil in our hearts. Think about the suffering caused by godless dictatorships or by men hurting other men. Also, God has set up certain natural laws to govern the universe. We can ignore them and be hurt. Much disease, ill health and malnutrition is man-made. We make ourselves sick by smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or eating too little or too much. It is equally true that the righteous or good people often suffer, and this will continue as long as we live in this world.

While it is not God's will for anyone to suffer, suffering, if we allow it, has a way of purifying us. Many people have turned to God because of suffering. God will intervene to relieve our pain and suffering, but this depends on a closeness and an intimacy with Him.

We must accept suffering without becoming bitter, and we can accept it without resigning ourselves to it (Romans 8:28). We should never quit seeking GOD'S TOUCH and asking Him to set us free. Suffering in this world, is temporary (Revelation 21:4).

How powerful is Satan?

We can judge the character and methods of Satan by the Biblical titles ascribed to him. Satan was one of God's created beings. But he rebelled against God. Extraordinarily powerful, he is also subtle, deceitful, vile, and hateful beyond our imagination. He was called "prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1, 2) and "murderer and father of lies" by Jesus Himself (John 8:44).

Satan is not necessarily some hideously deformed creature. He appears as an "angel of light" -- very handsome, very attractive, and very appealing (2 Corinthians 11:14). His name Lucifer means "the light one." His name Devil (John 8:44), a Greek word that means "the slanderer," shows he will tell lies of any kind to achieve his end. His name Satan (Matthew 12:26) a word meaning "the adversary," describes his reign over a kingdom of darkness that is organized in opposition to God.

His name Tempter (Matthew 4:3) points to his way of seeking to lead men into sin because he himself is a sinner. His name Beelzebub (Mark 3:22, 23) means "lord of the flies" or "lord of the dunghill." His name Apollyon means "destroyer." Peter the apostle wrote that Satan is like a roaring lion going to and fro, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

But as far as the believer is concerned, Satan's power is limited. For instance, he has to ask leave of God to try Job (Job 1:9-12; 2:4-6). Satan has already been judged, that is, his power and dominion over believers was broken at the Cross because of Christ's victory there (John 12:31; 16:11). Demons, Satan's agents even had to ask permission to enter swine (Matthew 8:30-32).

The Bible tells us that Satan is already a conquered enemy (see John 12:31; 1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15). And Satan will finally be cast alive into the lake of fire where he will be tormented for ever and ever (see Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

Christians are to resist Satan (1 Peter 5:8, 9; James 4:7). This is best done by submitting to God and by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Firstly, it is essential for us to know the Word of God (John 8:32-34). Satan's power to deceive us is on the ground of our ignorance. We are often destroyed for lack of knowledge. Next, Jesus has given all believers the right to use His Name, which represents all power and authority. Thirdly, by virtue of the new birth, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. Greater is He who is in the believer than he that is in the world.

Fourthly, the blood of Jesus is the cleansing power for the believer against sin. Fifthly, the believer who is Spirit-filled is given spiritual gifts to contend and withstand all the power of the enemy. Lastly, another spiritual weapon is the gift of the discerning of spirits. This is a protective gift that enables the body of Christ to discern what spirit (demonic? of the world? of the flesh?) is operating in any supernatural manifestation.


OMF Literature
CBN International Ministries

What are ANGELS?

The word angel means messenger. The holy angels are messengers from God while the fallen angels are messengers from Satan. Angels are created spirit beings -- they do not have bodies in the sense that man does.

Angels can be present in a given place. They are not omnipresent. Angels are a company, not a race. They were created all at one time; there is no procreation among them. Jesus made it plain that angels do not marry (see Luke 20:34-36). Angels do not give birth and do not die, hence they neither increase or decrease in number. In the Bible, they are referred to in the masculine gender. Angels are not to be worshiped -- the Bible warns against such practice (see Revelation 22:8, 9).

Except on those very special occasions when God chooses to allow man to see them, angels are invisible to the human eye. We are unaware of their presence.

Angels are moral beings endowed with the ability to know and do what is right or wrong. They are represented as having superhuman wisdom and intelligence, which implies that they have knowledge that is above man's. Although the Bible tells much about their power and strength, they ate not omnipotent -- their power is derived from God.

Angels are sent by God to protect, help or fight for His people. Angels were involved in announcing the birth of Jesus -- to the shepherds, Mary, Joseph -- and also to Elizabeth and Zechariah. Although angels are more powerful than humans now, in the end believers will judge or rule them (1 Corinthians 6:3).


OMF Literature
CBN International Ministries

Insights for Living: Tough Days, Part 2

Tough Days, Part Two
by Charles R. Swindoll

Galatians 6:9-18

Tough days. We all have them. And most of us, if we're honest, must admit we don't handle them well. Others who love us try to help, but they tend to complicate matters.

Take the four guys who decided to go mountain climbing one weekend. In the middle of the climb, one fella slipped over a cliff, dropped about sixty feet, and landed with a thud on the ledge below. The other three, hoping to rescue him, yelled, "Joe, are you okay?"

"I'm alive . . . but I think I broke both my arms!"
"We'll toss a rope down to you and pull you up. Just lie still!" said the three.
"Fine," answered Joe.

A couple of minutes after dropping one end of the rope, they started tugging and grunting together, working feverishly to pull their wounded companion to safety. When they had him about three-fourths of the way up, they suddenly remembered he said he had broken both of his arms.

"Joe! If you broke both your arms, how in the world are you hanging on?"
Joe responded, "With my TEEEEEEEEEEEETH . . ."

No, other people can't help much on tough days. They may be good companions, but they sure can't stop the pain. Holding hands and singing during an earthquake is small comfort.

Some would advise, "Just get in there and keep busy---work harder." But that doesn't help much either. When the barn's on fire, slapping a coat of paint on the other side doesn't make much sense. If the tires are flat, driving faster is pretty dumb.

So---what's the answer? How can we handle tough days when the Enemy works overtime to persuade us that God doesn't care? I have found solid encouragement from four threads woven into the fabric of Galatians 6. See if you don't agree.

1. Let us not lose heart (v. 9). On tough days, you gotta have heart. Don't quit, whatever you do. Persevere. Stand firm. Be strong, resilient, determined to see it through. Ask God to build a protective shield around your heart, stabilizing you.

2. Let us do good (v. 10). Our tendency will be anything but that. Instead of good, we will feel like doing evil. Fume. Swear. Scream. Fight. Pout. Get irritated. Burn up all kinds of emotional BTU's. Rather than parading through that shop-worn routine, stay quiet and consciously turn it all over to the Lord.

3. Let no one cause you trouble (v. 17). Superb advice! Refuse to allow anyone (or anything) to gain mastery over you. That throne within you belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stop leasing it out!

4. Let grace be with your spirit (v. 18). Allow the full impact of grace to flow through your thoughts, your attitudes, your responses, your words. Open the gates and let those good things stampede freely across your tough day. You sit on the fence and relax.

It works. It really does.

Insights for Today: CRITICISM

Criticism
by Charles R. Swindoll

2 Timothy 1:7

Looking for a role model on how to handle criticism? It would be worth your while to check out the book of Nehemiah. On several occasions this great-hearted statesman was openly criticized, falsely accused, and grossly misunderstood. Each time he kept his cool . . . he rolled with the punch . . . he considered the source . . . he refused to get discouraged . . . he went to God in prayer . . . he kept building the wall (Nehemiah 2:19-20; 4:1-5).

One of the occupational hazards of being a leader is receiving criticism (not all of it constructive, by the way). In the face of that kind of heat, there's a strong temptation to "go under," "throw in the towel," "bail out." Many have faded out of leadership because of intense criticism. I firmly believe that the leader who does anything that is different or worthwhile or visionary can count on criticism.

Along this line, I appreciate the remarks made by the fiery president of a past generation, Theodore Roosevelt:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

To those words I add a resounding amen.

A sense of humor is of paramount importance to the leader. Many of God's servants are simply too serious! There are at least two tests we face that determine the extent of our sense of humor:

• the ability to laugh at ourselves
• the ability to take criticism

Believe me, no leader can continue effectively if he or she fails these tests! Equally important, of course, is the ability to sift from any criticism that which is true, that which is fact. We are foolish if we respond angrily to every criticism. Who knows, God may be using those words to teach us some essential lessons, painful though they may be.

Isn't this what Proverbs 27:5-6 is saying?

Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

And let me call to your attention the word friend in these verses. Friendship is not threatened but strengthened by honest criticism. But---when you are criticized by one who hardly knows you, filter out what is fact . . . and ignore the rest!

Nehemiah did that . . . and he got the wall built.

Part 2: Heaven and Hell -- IS REINCARNATION REAL?

Nowhere in the Bible is reincarnation taught. The Scripture declares that "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Heb. 9:27)

Reincarnation teaches that when a person dies, his soul goes to live in a new body that is being born, and that this process repeats itself oven and over again. This belief of Hinduism teaches that how we live our life determines the Karmic debt that we must pay off in the next life, death, and reincarnation until we improve our state through many thousands of lives.

The Bible does agree that men are not good, and that they live under a sin debt. It differs, however, in declaring that grace and forgiveness come through Jesus Christ who has made it possible to be freed from the debt. It also teaches that we only have one life in which to receive the forgiveness of our debt to sin.

Insight for Today: The Cry From a Cave

The Cry from a Cave
by Charles R. Swindoll

Psalm 18:30-36

The Cave of Adullam was no Holiday Inn.

It was a wicked refugee camp . . . a dark vault on the side of a cliff that reached deeply into a hill. Huddled in this clammy cavern were 400 losers---a mob of miserable humanity. They came from all over and wound up all together. Listen to the account:

Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered. . . . There were about four hundred men. (1 Samuel 22:2)

The original Mafia. They all had one thing in common---a bad record. The place smelled like the Rams' locker room and sounded like an Army barracks. You can bet not one of those guys ever heard Gothard's principles on handling irritations. They were so tough they'd make Al Capone sleep with a night-light. They were gross. Anybody who got near that gang stayed as quiet as a roomful of nuns. They had a quaint name for those who crossed their paths . . . victims.

Except for David. That's right. David. It became his responsibility to turn that mob into an organized, well-disciplined fighting force . . . mighty men of valor. Talk about a challenge! These weren't the filthy five, nor the nasty nine, nor the dirty dozen. Remember---there were 400 of these hard-luck hooligans. Shortly thereafter, their numbers swelled to 600. And David was the den mother for these desperados. He was general, master sergeant, and chaplain all rolled into one. David, "the sweet psalmist of Israel," became David the drill instructor. Needless to say, his battalion of 600 is not to be confused with the 600 who "rode into the valley of death" in Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade. The only place these guys had ridden was out of town, chased by their creditors . . . which turned David's men into predators.

Did he pull it off? Could a shepherd from Bethlehem assume command of such a nefarious band of ne'er-do-wells? Did he meet the challenge?

Indeed! In a brief period of time, he had the troops in shape---combat ready. Incredible as it seems, he was doing battle against the enemy forces using strategic maneuvers before the year was up. These were the very men who fought loyally by his side and gave him strong support when he became the king of Israel. They were called "the mighty men," and many of their names are listed in the Bible for heroism and dedication.

All of us face a challenge. For some of you, it's a business that has all the earmarks of disaster. For others, it's the challenge of schooling without adequate money, or a houseful of young lives to shape, or a wounded relationship, or a prolonged illness that lingers and hurts. Still others of you find yourself in leadership over a group of people who need constant direction and encouragement . . . and you're tired of the demands. Some of you endure employment in a company that lacks a lot.

Be encouraged! If David could handle that cave full of malcontents, you can tighten your belt and take on the challenge in your cave. Do you need strength? Peace? Wisdom? Direction? Discipline? Ask for it! God will hear you. He gives special attention to cries when they come out of caves.

The Unseen World: The Evil Defection

That the host of invisible, wicked beings arrayed against God and His people operate under the leadership of Satan, their director. Once a high angelic creature, he rebelled against God (before man was even created) and was cast down from heaven. The prophet Isaiah has this to say about the fall of Satan: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Even though Isaiah was speaking of the king of Babylon in these verses (a type of Antichrist), it's quite obvious that the full import of his words is not limited to an earthly king. They do point to a real man, the king of Babylon. But they also refer to Satan, the power behind that wicked monarch. He is the invisible sovereign of the anti-God world-system. Called "son of the morning" in verse 12, Lucifer is the one who sought to encroach upon God's authority. Thwarted and dethroned, he became the devil, the adversary of God and the accuser of His followers. As a result of his rebellion, Lucifer was cast out of heaven. As Satan, he no longer serves with the holy angels who stand before the throne of God.

The devil was indirectly referred to by Ezekiel. Speaking to the prophet, the Lord said: "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord God; You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering; the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." (Ezekiel 28:12-15)

Here again, as with the Isaiah passage, the words recorded by the prophet were directed to an earthly king. Their significance, however, was not limited to the king of Tyre. The ultimate object of God's Word through the prophet was Satan himself, the invisible ruler of the wicked world-system. Before his fall, he was a mighty and exalted prince in a wonderful piece untouched and unmarred by the ravages of sin. But when he rebelled against God, he lost his high position and was cast down to the earth.

The devil was not alone in his defection. A number of other angels joined him in his rebellion against the Almighty. Peter spoke of "the angels who sinned" (2 Peter 2:4). The author of Jude referred to "the angels who did not keep their proper domain" (v. 6). And John envisioned a red dragon (which we believe refers to Satan) pulling down "a third of the stars of heaven" with his tail (Revelation 12:4). Those stars may well represent fallen angels who now hate God and serve the devil. On the basis of these passages, we believe that Satan has a large number of sinful, fallen angels who obey his commands. These are the "principalities," "powers," "rulers of the darkness of this age," and "spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places," with whom we wrestle (see Ephesians 6).

The question has been raised as to whether or not we should distinguish between fallen angels and demons. Some students of Scripture would say there is a distinct difference between the two.

First of all, some contend that demons are not fallen angels, but are the disembodied spirits of a race of people who lived on this earth and were destroyed before Adam came from the hand of God. They point to fossil remains that they believe are indicative of prehistoric life, including creatures whose anatomy was similar to that of modern man. They conclude that those remains are indications of an original human creation that existed before Adam's day but that was ruined because Satan's fall. They look demons, therefore, as distinct from fallen angels. They view them as the spirits of humanoids, an extinct, pre-Adamic race of people.

Second, other Bible scholars would tell us that demons, in contrast to fallen angels, are the spirits of giants produced by angelic "sons of God" who came down to this earth and married human "daughters of men." As a basis for their belief, they point to the first four verses of Genesis 6, which read as follows: "Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shat not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.' There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown" (Genesis 6: 1-4).

The "sons of God" mentioned in that passage are thought to be fallen angels who took upon themselves human bodies and married "the daughters of men." It is also believed that the product of this unholy union was a mongrel race, neither angelic nor human. And these scholars conclude that demons are the disembodied spirits of those hapless and hopeless creatures, and that they have a strong desire to live again in human bodies.

I might add that the students of Scripture who identify demons in this manner believe that the book of Jude makes reference to the "sons of God" of Genesis 6. The passage reads: "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 6,7).

Some Bible interpreters, claiming that the sin of the "sons of God" in Genesis 6 was similar to that of the people in Sodom and Gomorrah (sexual immorality and going after strange flesh), believe that those angels are now "reserved for judgment" (2 Peter 2:4). Others disagree. This is an area in which no one can speak with absolute certainty.

Of this we can be positive: Satan heads a great kingdom with a host of evil spirits. "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the ruler of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:13).

Insights for Today: Fallibility, Part Two by: Charlse R. Swindoll

Fallibility, Part Two
by Charles R. Swindoll

1 Peter 1:24-25

God's Word is infallible; people are not. Yesterday, we noted that this point is particularly underscored in the realm of leadership. We naturally seek after ministers we can respect and follow. And then---glory!---we come across some whose lives are admirable, whose leadership seems to be blessed of God, and whose instruction is biblical, wise, and dynamic. Everything's great until one such individual teaches something that is different from another minister who is equally admired. That never fails to leave groupies in a confused tailspin.

This is a good time to consider the sage counsel of Bernard Ramm:

How do we settle the truth when two people of equal piety and devotion have different opinions? Does the Holy Spirit tell one person the Rapture is pre-tribulation, and another that it is post-tribulation? The very fact that spiritually minded interpreters come to different conclusions about these matters distresses many people's minds. They have presumed that if a man is yielded to the Holy Spirit, his interpretations must be correct.

But certain things must be kept in mind. First, the Holy Spirit gives nobody infallible interpretations. Second, piety is a help to interpretation, but it is not a substitute for knowledge or study or intelligence.

Third, all of us are still in the human body and subject to its limitations and frailties . . . we make mistakes of interpretation in Scripture as well as errors in judgment in the affairs of life.

It is the present temptation of at least American evangelicalism to substitute a class of devout Bible teachers for the Catholic Pope. To such people the meaning of Scripture is that which their favorite Bible teacher teaches. But the Protestant principle must always be this: The truest interpretations are those with the best justification.

I could just as easily have used an illustration regarding a physician's diagnosis or a therapist's counsel. The issue is identical, and it brings us back to where we started yesterday. If I could change a term and put it in the language of a famous historical document: all men are created fallible. Yes, all. If you remember that, you'll have fewer surprises and disappointments, greater wisdom, and a whole lot better perspective in life. Rather than slumping into cynicism because your hero showed feet of clay, you'll maintain a healthy and intelligent objectivity. You'll be able to show respect without worshiping him or her. And when you really need to know the truth, you'll turn to the Scriptures with firsthand confidence.

If you're looking for infallibility, look no further than God's Word.

Insights for Today: Fallibility, Part One by: Charlse R. Swindoll

Fallibility, Part One
by Charles R. Swindoll

Psalm 119:89-96

Ever since I was knee-high to a gnat, I have been taught about and have believed in the infallibility of Scripture. Among the upper echelons of doctrinal truths, this one ranks alongside the Godhead, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace. We may fuss around with a few of the events in God's eschatological calendar or leave breathing room for differing opinions regarding angels and local church government. But when the subject turns to the infallibility and inerrancy of Holy Writ, I'm convinced there's no wobble room. Can't be. Take away that absolute and you've opened a hole in your theological dike that cannot be plugged. Given enough time and pressure, it wouldn't be long before everything around you would get soggy and slippery. Make no mistake about it; the infallibility of Scripture is a watershed issue.

But wait . . . let's stop right there when it comes to infallibility. Before I make my point, allow me to quote Webster's definition:

Incapable of error . . . not liable to mislead, deceive, or disappoint.

While that is certainly true of Scripture, it is not true of people. When it comes to humanity, fallibility is the order of the day. Meaning what? Just this: there is not one soul on this earth who is incapable of error, who is free from fault, who is unable to make mistakes, who is absolutely and equivocally reliable. Can't be. Depravity mixed with limited knowledge and tendencies to misunderstand, misread, misquote, and misjudge should keep all of us free from two very common mistakes: first, deification of certain individuals (including ourselves); and second, disillusionment when we discover fault and mistakes in others.

Just as biblical infallibility assures us that each page is incapable of error or deception, fallibility reminds us that each person is capable of both. The implications are equally clear. When it comes to the Bible, keep trusting. When it comes to people, be discerning.

This includes all people. I don't have space enough to complete a list, so I'll be painfully general and mention one group. I choose this group only because it's the one we tend not to question: those professionals whom we trust with our bodies, minds, and souls---namely, physicians, psychologists, and pastors. What influence these men and women possess! What good they do! How necessary they are! Most of us, if asked to name 10 people we admire and appreciate the most, would include two or three from this category. How gracious of God to give us such splendid individuals to help us through this vale of tears! Yet each one has something in common with everyone else---fallibility. Those whom we most admire remind us of that from time to time; nevertheless, everything in us cries out to resist such reminders. Of the three, I believe it is the minister whom people tend most to place on a pedestal.

It is certainly an unscriptural practice. The Berean believers are commended for listening to Paul then "examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Apollos and Paul are referred to merely as "servants through whom you believed" (1 Corinthians 3:5) and later given a rather insignificant place:

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

It's easy to forget all that, especially in a day when we hunger for spiritual leaders whom we can respect and follow. Put flawed human beings on a pedestal and they are bound to topple, fail, and disappoint, but God's Word is holy, inerrant, and totally reliable. To Him be the glory.

A Prayer for You ...

Prayer on Being Made Redundant

Redundant’ – the word says it all - ‘useless, unnecessary, without purpose, surplus to requirements.’

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that in the middle of the sadness, the anger, the uncertainty, the pain, I can talk to you. Hear me as I cry out in confusion, help me to think clearly, and calm my soul. As life carries on, may I know your presence with me each and every day. And as I look to the future, help me to look for fresh opportunities, for new directions. Guide me by your Spirit, and show me your path, through Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. Amen.

Today's Prayer

Open Our Minds and Hearts

I pray that we may at all times keep our minds open to new ideas and shun dogma; that we may grow in our understanding of the nature of all living beings and our connectedness with the natural world; that we may become ever more filled with generosity of spirit and true compassion and love for all life...

I pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving; that we may learn to take nothing for granted in this life; that we may learn to see and understand with our hearts; that we may learn to join in our being.

In Jesus Name, Amen!