Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

To make right decision one hundred percent of the time, we need to talk to God and ask Him to reveal His perfect will for us. To do this we need to unconditionally surrender our desires, plans and life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When we do this He promises to tell us great and might things, which we do not yet know, as He told the prophet Jeremiah.  

We need to ask God to guide us to Scriptures in His Holy Word that will provide us with the answers that He has already prepared for us. When we do this He will give us discernment for a decision that will honor Him.  We must be careful though, that we do not read only those verses that will support our desires or point of view; but, keep our mind open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Faithfully we need to ask God to provide the circumstances that will confirm His will for our decision. It is important that we do not manipulate the circumstances ourselves but wait on a clear answer that gives us peace and joy.

We need to learn to trust God completely and surrender our will to His Lordship, only then will be able to clearly be led to what we are to do.

It is important to be willing to let Him make the decision, to accept His answer and thank Him for His guidance and care.

If we have access to godly advisors, who are living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ it can be beneficial in helping us to make decisions especially for those that are not as grounded in the Word of God; but remember that we need to be very cautious that when we seek advice that it will only come from advisors that truly follow the Word of God. We need to be careful because false and incorrect advice can lead to being disobedient to God and will cause us a lot of hardship; so be wary of whom you get advice or counseling from. Be like the Bereans who received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).

Once you apply these principles diligently, ask God to confirm the answer He has given you, by giving you peace and confidence. Worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness and thank Him for His loving care and guidance.

So, how can we make the right choices? We need to take time to pray before we make a choice and do not be in a hurry to make a decision because the answer might be delayed because we are not ready yet for what we asked for or God might have something better for us.  

Prayer preceded all that Jesus said and did. He prayed to the Father before He made choices or took action as we see in Luke’s writings: “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:” (Luke 6:12-13). As a result of prayer, Jesus knew exactly whom God was calling to be His apostles.

Jesus got it right 100% of the time because He prayed and asked the Father.  He said to His disciples, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

When we give prayer the same priority Jesus gave, we will also see what the Father does and we will hear what He wants to communicate to us.  

Jesus’ ministry was founded on prayer, faith and obedience. Therefore, if we are going to follow Jesus, our life and ministry to God and to others will have to be founded on those principles also.

In Proverbs we are given very specific counsel about seeking Gods’ will and guidance before making decisions. When we seek God’ counsel we have His promise, that He will direct us if we acknowledge His Lordship over our life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

With so many decisions to make in life these days, it is important to know how to make decisions that honor God; therefore, S.T.O.P. and focus on these very important matters that we need to follow. We must:

SURRENDER: OUR WILL AND DESIRES

TRUST: GOD COMPLETELY

OBEY: WITHOUT HESITATION

PRAY: WITH FAITH AND THANKFULNESS

Remember that if we earnestly surrender, trust, obey and pray we will have God’s help in making the right decisions. God told Joshua: “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you, He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)

The Lord will help us in the same way as He helped Joshua and so many others to make the right decision, who earnestly surrender, trust, obey and pray.

Please teach your children and others these vital principles that will honor the Father and will give them godly direction for all their life.

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But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:16-17) 

The first step for believers in pleasing God is to be sure we are walking by the Spirit, not in the desires of the flesh and this can only happen when we accept the sacrifice for sin that He provided for us by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  

Paul explains the difference between the sinful nature and the nature of those regenerated by the Spirit. He who lives in sin has his mind established in sinful desires, while those regenerated by Christ have a completely new mind that is controlled by the spirit and desires to live according to the Holy Spirit’s leading. “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:6-8).  

As we see, pleasing God is a matter of living according to His precepts and commandments as Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). It requires giving up our will, denying our natural desire for honor and approval, and having our mind fixed on the Lord to keep our thoughts pure every moment of the day.  

Think about this! If Jesus walked into where you presently are, would you be ashamed of what you were doing or watching? If you are doing something that would bring you shame if others saw it, is a clear indication that what you are doing isn’t pleasing to God. However, when we are honest with God about our weaknesses, then He can help us overcome them if we are sincere about truly wanting to change. 

Christians have a responsibility to put to death their old nature through daily surrender or else they cannot live a life pleasing to God. Those who listen to the Holy Spirit will not think about fulfilling the desires of the flesh, because their thoughts are occupied with the God’s Word, His ways, and purposes. 

The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” So, what dominates your thoughts? 

The life that pleases God is continually seeking to know God better and requires an obedient heart that “walks in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). It also requires faith because “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).  

The Word says that we are to be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). Just as Christ, in His absolute perfection, lived to please God, we have to follow His example by spending time in prayer, and studying the Word. 

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life doing everything for the glory of God. The Apostle Paul sought to do the same thing by following Christ’s example and we also can imitate Christ by obediently walking in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21) and showing love and thankfulness to Him by staying true to His teachings and commands. 

Remember to treasure each day. Don’t live in constant regret of the past or fear of the future. Treat each day as the gift from God that it truly is because, each day is another opportunity to grow in faith and understanding. You’ll please God simply in seeking Him day by day; as the Psalmist said:  

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

(Proverbs 4:23-27)

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Jesus had cast a demon out of a man who was blind and mute; and, as a result healed him so that he could both see and speak (Matthew 12:22). The religious leaders, the Scribes and Pharisees who saw this miracle, dared to say that Jesus had cast the demon out of the man “by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matthew 12:24). In other words, they claimed that He did this by the power of the devil. Jesus responded by disproving their ridiculous and blasphemous accusation, and by warning them that they were demonstrating themselves to be evil men who spoke from corrupt hearts.

Then, He spoke these sober words to the religious leaders who had opposed Him.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)

Jesus addressed the demonic realm as a reality and that demons were indeed able to indwell a person. In Jesus’ parable, the demon is called “an unclean spirit,” and is said to have gone out of a man. How it came to be that he went out of the man we are not told. But whatever the reason might have been, the demon is presented in this passage as thinking of this man as “his own house” – ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’

The demon may have left the man for a time, but it doesn’t seem that the demon gave up ownership of the man when he left.

Perhaps God had shown great mercy to the man, by allowing him some time to turn away from sin, and to ‘make a change’ in his life. The man might have even begun to ‘search’ God, and to look for spiritual things. In fact, it may even be that the man heard the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and began to be drawn to it.

What ever happened the Bible does not tell us, but there’s one thing we can know for sure, is that this man clearly was given a chance and fell short of having a genuine relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit had not taken up residence in him.

The demon had left him, and he remained “empty.” But he only remained “empty” for a short time. Once out of the man, the demon was restless and dissatisfied. Jesus said that the demon went through “dry places,” seeking rest, but found none.

Apparently a demon needed to possess a body and would even rather inhabit “a herd of swine” than to be wandering about without a “home” (Matthew 8:31).

So then; this restless demon began to think on the man that he had left. “I will return to my house from which I came”, he said. And when he returned, he found that the man had made it a very comfortable home to return to! The man had apparently made some moral changes in his life. He had cleaned up his act. He may even have added a few new religious habits and pseudo-spiritual practices. But in spite of all the things done “clean up”, there was still no one else taking residence within him. The man’s inner being was a spiritual vacuum. The demon returned to find it “empty, swept, and put in order”.

What a dreadful and dangerous thing this is, because as Jesus tells us then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

It’s not that his condition became as bad as it once was when only one demon indwelt him; rather, his condition became so much worse; because the demon brought in seven others “more wicked than himself.”

This parable is a great warning to those who think that they can just “clean up their act” while avoiding a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by accepting Him as their Savior and making Him the Lord of their life and thereby receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

These Jewish people needed to hear this since truth was all around them and they would not listen. They had heard the preaching of John the Baptist as he fulfilled the promises of the Scriptures concerning himself, and pointing to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). They beheld His miracles and heard His teaching; and yet, even as He was offering Himself to them as their long-awaited and promised Messiah, they rejected Him. They saw Him work miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit; and yet they dared to accuse Him of working in the power of the devil.

As we see by Paul’s warnings, demons were very real to the Jews, that is why he writes “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).

The Jews and their Jewish leaders had a terrible vacuum (empty house) in their being, even as their King stood before them and even as He warned them so shall it also be with this wicked generation. They did not understand and they did not care because, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Clearly, the primary point of this parable was to serve as a condemnation of that generation who would not receive the Savior; but it is likewise a warning to us for nearly 2000 years.

So who is occupying your house? There are only two spiritual forces trying to live in our body. One is the Holy Spirit; the other is the devil and his demons.

There are individuals that make an effort to clean up their lives and then fall back into their sinful lifestyles and their life becomes even more messed up than it was before. There is a solution thought; Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

One of the most dangerous things a person can do is to go through this life without welcoming Jesus Christ into their life. Jesus said: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).

So let us as true born again Christians do our part by doing what Jesus told us to do and go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)

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“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:6 and 10)

These verses tell us that if we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, surrendering our own will, then He will give us the grace that we need to live a true Christian life, as well as exalt us in His time.

Andrew Murray calls humility “the place of entire dependence on God.” He adds “humility is not so much a virtue; it is the root of all, because it alone assumes the right attitude before God, and allows Him as God to do all…. It is simply the feeling of total surrender, which arises when we see that God really is everything, and we opened the way for Him to be all”

To be humble is to have the same mindset as Jesus Christ. He existed in the form of God, but did not consider equality with God; instead, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8).

Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. He did not value His own self-importance or honor, but freely gave it up in every situation so that God’s will, could be carried out and God could be glorified through His life.

The Bible says that when we are humble; we are free from pride and arrogance. We are then able to be a peacemaker without needing to fight for our rights; and are able to walk humbly in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

We need to understand that being a humble servant of Christ requires that we submit to His leadership, regarding what we are to do, how we are to carry out His will, and where He would have us serve. There is no room for self-seeking or self-promotion; our only concern should be obedience, with the aim that God alone gets the glory.

Sometimes we become preoccupied with finding our purpose in life so we can gain a sense of usefulness and self-fulfillment. Although we do benefit from serving the Lord according to the way He has gifted us that should not be our primary motive. A humble spirit doesn’t look out for its own interests but instead thinks of others; this is the attitude Christ had. He willingly left heaven to take on human form in order to go to the cross, which was a humble act of obedience to the Father so we could be saved.

Do you have the right attitude when it comes to following Christ? Peter had to give up his personal desires and selfishness. Paul had to surrender his way and forego his position among the Pharisees. Humility in the life of the believer is the mark of greatness, not because you shine when you are humble, but because when you submit to God’s will, He shines through you.

From the world’s perspective, humility is weakness. But it is actually strength because it requires the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to overcome our natural self-centeredness. Instead of being a sign of weakness, it’s actually a sign of Christ’s life in us.

When we are humble, we can defuse arguments and we do not have to win every dispute, remembering that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

We can handle unfair treatment peacefully when we are humble and we can respond to it without being overcome by bitterness. Godly humility means that we do not feel a need for vengeance or retaliation; as Scripture instruct us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

When we are humble, we can respond to and learn from criticism without being defensive, whether it is deserved or not; we can forgives and can talk courteously and lovingly, regardless of the situation; because, when we as believers listen to our Father, He lets us know that we must examine our motives and attitudes before we do anything. Even if we need to be firm or take strong actions we need to remember to “not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

When we understand and put into practice what the Bible says about humility we can live peacefully and humbly in the sight of God and our fellow men.

And, as we begin to recognize that we can do nothing of value apart from the Lord, we will have started on the road to humility. When we give up all our plans and instead accept God’s, we will be leaving our pride behind. If we are misunderstood or treated unfairly but stay where we are until the Lord tells us what to say or where to move, then we will have begun to live the humble life that pleases our Savior.

Jesus offers to be our Master Teacher so we might learn the godly lessons of humility. Remember humility is a quality every believer in Christ needs to possess because “when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).

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“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4)

 What is patience? Patience is commonly defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

The opposite of patience is agitation, discouragement, and a desire for revenge. God does not want His children to live in agitation but in peace as Jesus told His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). He wants to dispel discouragement and replace it with hope and praise (Psalm 42:5); and we are not to avenge ourselves; rather, we should love each other (Romans 12:19; Leviticus 19:18).

God is patient, and His Spirit produces the fruit of patience in us. When we are patient, we leave room for God to work in our heart and in our relationships. We need to let go of our agenda and trust in God’s; and thank the Lord for what He brings into our life; simply, we let God be God.

Let’s see what the Bible says about patience; since the Bible has much more to say about it than its normal definition: 

Patience originates from God: 

• For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:4-6)
  

Patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit:  

• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
  

Patience helps us grow during trials:  

• Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (Romans 12:10-13);
• My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
  

Patience allows us to be strengthened and be blessed by God:  

• Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalms 37:7);
• I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry (Psalms 40:1);
• Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5);
• And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12).
  

Patience is pleasing to God:  

• The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8);
• My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience (James 5:10);
• I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary (Revelation 2:2-3).
  

As we clearly see, patience is a virtue from God. Like all the other aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, patience is yet another indicator of our relationship with God. 

We must listen, obey Him, and at times give up our own personal desires and opinions in order to wait for His direction. Unfortunately, lack of patience has led to many situations where poor decisions have been made and injustices have taken place. It is therefore essential that we cooperate with the Spirit as He develops patience within us, because the virtue of having patience can save us from the inevitable grief that comes when we refuse to wait for His direction.   

In conclusion, patience is commonly defined as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Patience, sometimes referred to as longsuffering, originates from God, and is part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a product of self-control and a part of godliness, which was demonstrated to us by Christ. Patience is an important part of helping us grow and become stronger in our faith during trials. Our patience pleases God and results in His blessing. Finally, lack of patience demonstrates ungodly thinking that is without God’s protection and knowledge and leads to injustices and unmerciful treatment of others. 

The greater the blessing God has for us, the more patience He requires. This means we have a choice. We can either learn how to be patient and see what God will do in our life, or we can work it out ourselves and watch it turn into disaster. What will you choose?

Remember that the wisest action is to patiently trust in God, wait, and watch to see what He will do; and as we let the Spirit produce patience in us, He makes us more like Christ.

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Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. (Titus 2:3-5) 

Who are the ‘older women’? Paul probably had in mind women beyond child-bearing age. The reason for the advice in Titus 2:3-5 for older women to teach a younger woman married and with children was that the vast majority of young women in the first century would marry at a very young age and needed guidance from an older godly woman.

Paul encourages Titus to teach every group in the church; older men, young men, older women, slaves, every group except for young women! But teaching and training young women on how to live godly lives was and is primarily the responsibility of older women, not the pastor or the elders of a church; therefore, it is vital that godly women and women’s ministries don’t lose sight of this goal.

So what are older women to teach younger women? Let’s look at our verses. 

Older women are to be reverent in the way they live. The term “reverence” was used to characterize the conduct of holiness, which suggests that he is talking about women that love and obey the Lord. They are to teach young women “what is appropriate to sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1), older women that understand the Word of God and who correctly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The reverent woman fears God and lives in His presence serving God with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She seeks His will for her life and follows His ways. (Proverbs 31:26, John 14:15, Psalm 119:15)

Older women are not to be slanderers. A word slanderer in Greek is used to identify the devil! It also means malicious gossipers. A godly woman will not repeat damaging stories about others. She will not spread rumors or half-truths that damage someone’s reputation.

Older women are not to be addicted to wine. There is a connection between a loose tongue and intoxicating drink. A woman who drinks will probably talk too much. These were among the vices commonly associated with the negative type of older women in Greco-Roman society.

Older women are to teach what is good. The word “good” could be translated “beautiful and pure” As we see, it was the older women, not Titus, that were to teach the younger women how to be truly beautiful, namely, to be godly.

This is especially important as the church sees younger women coming to Christ from pagan backgrounds. Perhaps they have not had godly role models to teach them how to make their homes attractive places for their families. They don’t know how to love their husbands and children. Worldly feminism tells them to forget their families and find fulfillment in things of the world. Godly older women are to talk sincerely to them by teaching what is beautiful and attractive about a godly home.

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands. In this text the word that Paul uses implies the love of friendship. A husband and wife should cultivate an intimate companionship. Love for your husband begins in how you think about him each day. If you complain about his bad habits or verbally attack him all day by your unkind words, you do not love him. You must begin by thanking God for him and by thinking about his needs and how you can fulfill them. The love of friendship requires time together, sharing your thoughts and feelings, and most of all studying God’s Word together.

The younger women are not only supposed to love their husbands but also to respect them; “her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:11-12). Also see Proverbs 31:28, 1 Peter 3:1-6, Ephesians 5:22-24.

Then they can urge the younger women to love their children. This can be difficult at times, especially when they try your patience by their disobedience. It would be good to memorize 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 so that you can learn how to relate to both your husband and children. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Younger women are to teach their children the ways of the Bible. They are to nurture their children with the love of Christ, discipline them with care and wisdom, and train them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 31:26-28). And God commanded all of Israel to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” Deuteronomy 6:5-7).

The younger women are to be self-controlled. It literally means to be in rational control of one’s impulses and passions.

The younger women are to be pure. This refers to sexual purity. You should not associate with anything that feeds your imagination with the supposed pleasures of illicit romance. If something is bothering you because your emotional or physical needs are not being met, you need to find an appropriate time and honestly and calmly talk to your husband about those needs.

Younger women are to have the inner beauty that only comes from Christ. They are to use their creativity and sense of style to create beauty in their life and the lives of their loved ones. (1 Peter 3:1-6)

The younger women is to be busy at home. The reminder here is her duty is first to her home and family. She may work outside the home but never to the neglect of her primary calling to be attentive to her home and family. (Proverbs 31:13-15, Proverbs 31:27)

She creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her. (Proverbs 31:20-22) 

She works diligently to complete her daily tasks. She does not spend time watching and dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord. (Philippians 4:8)

The younger women are to be kind. This trait is also part of the fruit of the Spirit given by Paul (Galatians 5:22–23), which is relevant for all Christians. The kind woman thinks of the needs of others and goes out of her way to meet those needs. When a family member is upset or discouraged, she responds with sympathy and kind words.

A kind woman serves her husband, her family, her friends, and her neighbors with a gentle and loving spirit. Her home is not only a secure refuge, but also a base for loving, serving and reaching out to others.

The younger women are to be subject to their own husbands. Paul also writes about wives submitting to their husband in (Ephesians 5:22–33), as does Peter (1 Peter 3:5). In Titus, this is meant to be in contrast to the culture of non-believers in Crete, where wives likely disrespected their husbands. This submission does not mean living as a servant, or never taking initiative. Rather, it means living with love under a husband’s leadership. Paul compares Christian marriage with the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22–33).

So that no one will malign the word of God. This is to leave false teachers no chance to attack the Christian faith.

For us at Mission Venture Ministries, it’s a personal attack when we hear anyone belittling or maligning our precious Lord and Savior and the Bible. Our world today is not an easy place for Bible-believing Christians, but we must not let that stop us from teaching the truth of God’s Word. Jesus told us we would be persecuted, just like He was (John 15:20), but all He asks us to do is defend His Word, the Bible, and to share His gospel message with grace and love. God will do the rest.

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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30)         

Do you have a burden for the professing Christians who have never experienced the second birth? Do you have compassion for people who honor Jesus with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him?

Sadly, these false converts are tragic victims of a subtle, yet potentially fatal deception. Unless they are confronted with the truth, they may never know that they have been deceived. One day they may hear the most terrifying words anyone could ever hear when Jesus says: “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matthew 7:23).

These precious souls have either been led astray by a compromised gospel or manipulated to make a decision with unbiblical methods of evangelism. Just as Jesus warned the “teachers” of His time: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites, you travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:15), we must warn those that are being entrapped in the false teachings of today.

Unfortunately there are many “church leaders” who have discovered that they can gain a larger following by making the Gospel more appealing and more acceptable. By broadening the narrow road, they have found they can build bigger churches by exchanging God’s Gospel for an “easy to believe” gospel. Regrettably, this watered-down version of the Gospel is gaining popularity within evangelical circles and must be exposed and confronted with the truth of God’s Word.

The devil loves to see false converts being deceived in the name of Christ. He continues to rise up false teachers to teach false gospels, about false christs, for the purpose of producing false Christians, with a false hope. The apostle Paul warned us that the same serpent that deceived Eve by his craftiness also sends his workmen to preach another Jesus and a different gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Satan hates the Gospel of grace and has been using religious men filled with pride like the Pharisees and Sadducees to pervert the message ever since it was first announced. That is why Paul informed us that the Gospel he preached was not according to man’s traditions or philosophy; he received it directly from God through a pure revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).

The frightening reality is that instead of calling sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, “church leaders” are asking unbelievers to repeat a prayer, sign a card, raise their hands, and present themselves at the altar; and instead of trusting Jesus as their Savior, they only need to believe in Him. None of these modern traditions have any biblical foundation. Not only do they dishonor the Savior, but they often mislead souls into a false hope of salvation.

We must warn those who are misleading people that they must not go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6). It is extremely dangerous to manipulate God’s requirements to enter into His Kingdom (Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18). Unless we evangelize the way God instructs, we run the serious risk of deceiving people about their eternal destiny and will be strictly judged (James 3:1).

Biblical evangelism requires making disciples. It involves teaching people to observe all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). His first command was to “repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance is a change in mind that is granted by God and leads to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25). Repentance described throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. In repenting, one makes a complete change of direction (180° turn) toward God. This results in leaving idols in order to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9); leaving dead works and embracing faith (Hebrews 6:1); and going from sin to righteousness and from the traditions of men to Christ and His Word (Acts 26:20).

The importance of calling sinners to repentance is also confirmed in the last command Jesus gave: “Repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations” (Luke 24:47). Remember, Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). Those who respond to the Gospel with repentance and faith will escape from the kingdom of darkness and follow the Light of the world (John 8:12). They will turn from the broad road and enter the narrow way that leads to life everlasting (Matthew 7:13-14).

It is the duty and responsibility of every disciple of Christ to fight the good fight of faith. We must keep the imperishable seed of God’s Word from being corrupted and contaminated by foolish men who are chasing after their own agendas. We must contend for the purity and exclusivity of the Gospel for the glory of Christ and the sanctity of His Church. We much teach only from God’s Word otherwise sinners will not know the God they have offended or the God who controls their destiny.

It is vital to understand that Jesus Christ came to earth to reconcile us to the Father; He died on the cross to save us from an eternity in hell and to give us the free gift of salvation. It is critical to understand that when accepting Him as our Savior that we also need to make Him the Lord of our live.

Many say, “Jesus is my Savior, but I haven’t yet made Him the Lord of my life.” Please understand that the only people ready for His return are those who daily seek to bring every area of their life under His Lordship. Obedience, is the mark of a true Christian and if you are not sure examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), because, those who are ready for Christ’s return seek to follow Him as Lord.

All true born again believers should be sharing the gospel, even if it’s right next door; we should be praying to the Lord of the Harvest for more laborers for there are never enough; we should never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ for we risk Jesus’ being ashamed of us on the day of His visitation. That’s why Jesus came into the world, to seek those who were lost; and that is what we should do also.

In closing, ask God to give you a burden for the lost. Pray for the lost, especially those you have frequent contact with. When God gives the opportunity, share the gospel, pray for missionaries and give so that they can take the gospel to those who have never heard about Christ; because the love of Christ and the love of God’s truth should impel us to have a burden for lost souls.

Remember that: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner’s soul from death (James 5:20).

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First, the Bible tells us that angels existed before God created anything in the universe, as we learn from the conversation He had with Job. “Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off how big it should be? Surely you know! What were the earth’s foundations set on? Or who put its cornerstone in place? Who did all this while the morning stars sang together? Who did this while the angels shouted with joy?” (Job 38:4-7) 

Second, we need to realize that the number of angels is unfathomable and the apostle John gives us a glimpse of their multitude in Revelation 5:11 as he looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand; and the book of Hebrews talks about “innumerable myriads” meaning incalculable numbers, Hebrews 12:22. 

God created angels for many purposes, including guiding, protecting and encouraging us. The angels are God’s servants, sent by Him into the world to serve His will. However one of the most important roles of angels is to praise and glorify God. 

Luke 2:13-14 tells us that, Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” 

Revelation 4:8 says, “Day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’” 

In Revelation 5:11-12 we read, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand…In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 

And in Revelation 7:11-12 we see where, “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,  saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Angels are created spirit beings (Nehemiah 9:6 and Hebrews 1:14); yet, the Bible clearly teaches that they can take on human form and appear to people. In the Old Testament there are recorded appearances of angels to Abraham, Hagar, Lot, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Daniel, and many others. The New Testament opens with a whole series of angelic appearances related to the birth of the Messiah. After the death of Jesus, angels appeared at His tomb and at His ascension. Peter, John, Phillip, and Paul all had angelic encounters in their ministries.

When angels take on human form, they appear like any normal person (Genesis 18:1-2 and Genesis 19:1-2), and when they manifest themselves in their spirit form, they tend to appear shining as bright as lightning and their clothes are white as snow (Matthew 28:1-4).

In their biblical appearances angels always manifest themselves as men. There is no mention of them having wings. The idea that angels have wings is rooted in the Bible’s description of some special angelic beings called Seraphim and Cherubim who reside in the throne room of God in Heaven. Seraphim are described as having six wings in Isaiah 6:2, and Cherubim are depicted with four wings in Ezekiel 1:5-6.

Angels do not marry or procreate as is stated in Matthew 22:30 and Luke 20:36 tell us that they do not age nor are they subject to death.

While all the angels were in the beginning created holy and without sin, and Satan was originally one of God’s most glorious angels, “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12); his heart became proud because of his beauty (Ezekiel 28:17), and his pride motivated him to try to take the throne of God (Isaiah 14:12-14). Due to his rebellion, he was cast out of Heaven, down to earth, and one third of the angels were cast out with him because they joined in his rebellion (Revelation 12:4).

The Bible does not tell us when this revolt took place, but it was most likely after the end of the creation week because at the end of that week God pronounced all of His creation to be “good” (Genesis 1:31).

God works through angels, however it is God who makes the decision to direct an angel to do His request, not an angel’s decision to act independent from God, therefore:

Angels carry out God’s judgment. With their God-given power, they carry out anything God sends them to do. In the book of Revelation we find them as vital agents in pouring out the awful judgments of the Tribulation, and even in doing battle with Satan and his evil angels to restrict them from any access to heaven, confining them to the realm of this earth in anticipation of Satan’s captivity and final defeat as described in Revelation 12 and 20.

They were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:12-15). An angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night to prevent them from attacking Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35). Psalm 78:49 speaks of a “band of destroying angels” that was sent to torment the Jews in the wilderness when they rebelled against God. The New Testament makes it clear that God will execute His end time judgments on the nations through angels (Matthew 13:49-50 and Jude 14-15).

Angels will separate the wheat from the tares (the saved from the lost) at the final judgment, as Matthew 13:38-42 tells us: “…The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil…”

Angels protect God’s people. Psalm 91:11-12 states, “He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” In Matthew 18:10 Christ made a statement regarding little children when He said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven;” which is a likely reference to a guardian angel.

We also see the Angel of the Lord protecting the three Hebrews in the furnace (Daniel chapter 3), and watching over Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel chapter 6).

Angels provide. They were sent by God to provide sustenance for the Lord at the end of his forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11); and an angel provided bread and water for Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-6).

Angels rescue believers. In Acts 5:19, the angel rescues Peter and John from prison and in Acts 12:3–19 we read that Peter was put into prison by King Herod, but the night before his trial an angel appeared to him, and told him to leave. Peter’s chains fell off, and he followed the angel out of prison, thinking it was a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the Iron Gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

Angels counsel and comfort. We see the angel comforting Hagar after she ran away from Sarai. “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.  Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.”  The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” (Genesis 16:7-10)

Angles have their purpose in the kingdom of our Father; however, when carefully studying about angels we find a very serious warning in the last book and chapter of the Bible. John writes “It is I, John, who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets and of those who keep the message of this book. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:8-9).

Angels are powerful and awesome in many ways, but, like us, they are only creatures and servants of the living God who alone deserves our worship.

We need to remember that the church at Colossae had been invaded by false teachers who were teaching a false humility and the worship of angels, claiming special mystic insights by way of visions in connection with their worship of angels; therefore, the Bible says: “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind” (Colossians 2:18). This was demonic because it was usurping the preeminent place and sufficiency of Christ as Savior and Lord. The claim was, Jesus Christ is not enough for salvation and spirituality; what you need is to worship angels. This is extremely dangerous so beware because Lucifer the once most glorious angel “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty,” now prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

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People may tell us that that have ruined their life and destroyed hope for anything good to come their way; but that is not true. When we are in despair and think our life is shattered, it is at that very moment where God wants to get our attention and do something wonderful, if we let Him! When we ask God to take control of the situation, He will walk us through and guide us, and we will begin to realize that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

The Bible is full of people who received second chances, and even third and fourth chances: Jonah, Samson, Zacchaeus, Peter, the thief on the cross and others.

David was God’s choice to be Israel’s king and one whom God declared to be “a man after His own heart.” But David slept with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most loyal army officers. David had her husband killed in battle and than married her. God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David and he repented (Psalm 51), and God forgave David’s sin. Even though the child born to David and Bathsheba died, God restored the couple and made them parents of the great King Solomon, whose descendant was Jesus Christ as we read in 2 Samuel 11, 12.

One of the amazing aspects of God’s character is His incredible patience with us. Psalm 86:15 tells us: “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” And in Micah 7:18 we read, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love.”

No matter what we have done, God loves us and is eager to forgive us; all we have to do is ask. Nothing is too big for God to forgive, because, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

God will restore a humble heart once we accept the consequences of our wrong doing. We might need to pay back some money, apologize to someone, pay a fine or penalty, regain another person’s trust, or correct a problem that we helped to create. Even if it means admitting we were wrong and feeling embarrassed, these important steps must be taken to fully obey God and learn to live in obedience to Him. Psalm 25:9 says: He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

Even if we have given up on ourselves, God does not give up on us. Throughout Scripture, the Lord begs His people to turn away from pride, sin and rebellion and come back to Him. If we choose not to obey God and go our own way, He pursues us; He never gives up on us, even when we foolishly insist on doing things our own way and choose to disobey Him. He will allow us to deal with the fallout of our disobedience, but He is never far away, waiting for us to come back to Him. When we finally stop fighting, acknowledge our sin and call out to Him, He comes with open arms to give us what we need most, Himself because He loves us! Joel 2:13 tells us: Return to the Lord your God. He is gracious. He is tender and kind. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. He takes pity on you. He won’t destroy you.

God’s goal is to sanctify us, to make us like Jesus, developing us into loving and mature persons, however for some, these changes take time. This life is the process that prepares us for the next one! So when we stumble and fall down, we should not give up! We need to get back up and keep our focus on Jesus, even if we have to limp for a while! Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. . . . (Hebrews 12:1-2).

If you have lost your way in life and have gone in the wrong direction, there is good news, God is waiting for you! He considers you too valuable to lose. As Jesus told His disciples: If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. Matthew 18:12-14

Just as God is patient and forgiving, He wants His children to be patient with and forgiving of others. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). The Lord gives us second chances, and we must give the same to others. Jesus gives a stern warning to those who refuse to forgive, saying that if we will not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:15; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). If someone is truly repentant, then we are obligated to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).

Some time a person needs to hit bottom, because, only then can God work with them and bring them to their senses. God does everything possible to draw us to repentance, offering forgiveness and second chances (2 Peter 3:9); but if we continue to reject Him, the offer is withdrawn and, at death, there are no more chances (Hebrews 9:27).

Evangelism and sharing the gospel is simply one prodigal telling another prodigal that the blood has been shed, the price has been paid and the Father is waiting and longing for them to come home.

Please remember that “the Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

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How can you be sure that you are a Christian?  Romans 12:9-21

Here are some true Christian traits that you can rest assured on that you are born again and that the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, working in you, and providing solid, Biblical evidence that you are a Christian and that you can know that you are saved.

First of all a true Christian understands the plan of salvation and has a great desire to share it with those who are lost.

Secondly, they love and honor Jesus above everything else. While Christians love their family and friends, they put the Lord above all else and it’s evident in their priorities. Everyday happenings may be a part of their lives, but things and material needs never come before Christ and following His Word.

It is their controlling desire to abstain from sin and live a humble, holy life; to honor Almighty God, our Creator and Savior.

They are selfless and sacrificial. True Christians always put others first and put someone else’s genuine needs before their own. This is evident in the follower of Christ selfless deeds and acts of kindness.

Humility and modesty are key traits of a true Christian. To be humble is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, because the Lord Himself was truly humble. Even though He was God, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8). Christ’s disciples are also modest, in appearance and in the way that they live and act. People can always know when they are in the presence of men and women after “God’s own heart”, because, Jesus is always the center of attention.

They have self-control of their emotions and actions; which is evident in the way they behave, regardless of how others act toward them. If they are criticized, ridiculed or persecuted for their faith, they respond with kindness, just as Jesus did.

A true Christian professes Christ to be God and holds Him in the highest esteem (1 John 4:1-3, 1 John 4:13-15). They practice righteousness (1 John 2:28-29) and do those things that conform to God’s righteous standard.

A child of God has the Holy Spirit living inside of them empowering them to live a pure, clean, honest and holy life. They feel deeply convicted when they sin and immediately confess, repent and ask God for forgiveness (1 John 1:8-10).

People who live and work around a Christian see the humility and holiness of Jesus expressed in their daily life and know that they are Christian because they walk as Christ walked (1 John 2:4-5); they see their desire to imitate Christ and grow in conformity to Him.

Christians love other true believers, Jesus said that “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). They desire each other’s fellowship, and seek to help each other grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

True believers pray regularly and are in fellowship with God. They love to learn more about God and the Savior, and hunger and thirst for God’s Word. This is a strong indicator that the Holy Spirit is actively working in their life.  In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Christians long and desire to pursuit of holiness because, without holiness no one will see the Lord  (Hebrews 12:14).

Believers obey the Lord as the wise and not the foolish builder (Luke 6:46-49). They do not want to hear what Jesus said to the hypocrites “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

Those that are born again have a great desire and burden to seek those who are lost and share the love of Christ with them; they have the same desires that God has for those who will perish without Christ (John 3:16).

If we have these qualities, and they are increasing in us, we have evidence that we have come to know the Lord and are bearing the fruits of a child of God. However, if these qualities are absent from our life, we should have a great concern for our soul. We should be diligent to seek God regarding our salvation. We should reexamine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5); and, we should be diligent to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:8-11).

If you would like to know how to be saved and have everlasting life with Jesus Christ click on the following link: ABOUT SALVATION.

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