SALVATION AND THE HUMAN WILL

By Paul Hume

Scripture  Reading: Rom. 9:15-16; John 1:12-13; 3:16

Dwight Lyman Moody once said that "the whosoever wills are the elect, and the whosoever wont's are the non-elect!" This is certainly true. The human will does play an important part in personal salvation. But the problem which ultimately must be faced when one deals with the sovereignty of God must touch on this matter of what place man's will plays--if any.

Now there are two extremes to avoid. One is that since God is sovereign, and since man cannot save himself at all, then man has no part at all in salvation. That is, God will save him without any action on his part. The other extreme is that God cannot and will not save anyone unless he is willing to be saved.

In between these extremes we believe the truth lies. It is true that the sinner is "dead in trespasses and sins" therefore cannot, of himself, take one step toward God and salvation. It is also true that God has given man a will, and He respects that will. Yet due to the fact that the depravity of the human nature has also crippled the will, God must first move and work in the sinner to make him willing to be saved! This is what Christ meant when He said, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). This is also what is meant in John 1:12-13: "But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power, (authority) to become the sons of God (children of God), even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Therefore, as Romans 9:16 states, "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."

Hence, how beautiful it all works out. Of my own will, I did not want God or His salvation (Christ). But He wooed me and drew me, with love and power and gave me the willingness to receive Christ into my life! Bless the Lord, oh, my soul!

    "I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love, And thus He bound me to Him." (J.G. Small)

In the total expanse of human life there is not a square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, "That is mine!"  -- Abraham Kuyper

MAJORITIES OFTEN WRONG

by C. R. Stam
    
When St. Paul was at Ephesus his proclamation of the gospel caused such a stir that the idol makers, who were losing money, protested until "the whole city was filled with confusion." Soon somebody started a chant: "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" Others joined and the chorus swelled until "all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:34), and the town clerk, referring to the religion which surrounded this pagan goddess, said confidently: "These things cannot be spoken against" (Ver .36).

But later, at Rome, the Apostle was informed, with reference to those who had accepted the truths he had been proclaiming: "As concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against" (Acts 28:22).

We wonder which side our readers would now prefer to be on: that of the superstitious multitude or that of the minority who place their faith in the Bible.

Millions worshipped the goddess Diana from a thousand years before Christ to two centuries after, but who knows her today? Where is the evidence of all the miracles she is supposed to have wrought? Her glory is little more than a memory and the religion which revolved around her name is a thing of the past.

But the Bible, for all these centuries and more, has stood unchanged and unchangeable. It has weathered, not barely, but handsomely, all the storms of criticism and opposition, and has proved to be indeed the Word of God. Read the Bible and especially that part which is particularly meant for us today: the Epistles of Paul. Depend upon it, act upon it and don't hesitate to stand for it, even when in the minority, for where the most vital truths are concerned, majorities have generally been wrong.


Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my victorious Lord, how often I attempt to be the one who directs my life. I confess that when I lead, victory is not the result. Lord, help me to count on You to lead me in Your triumph, even in the difficult situations that I frequently encounter. In Your triumphant name, I pray, Amen.

The Great Finalizing Shout

By John LaVier
There is no prophetic word in the Bible more wonderful than that given to us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This passage is well known, but we quote it again:

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

What a great, grand, and glorious event is this—the rapture of the church. Every member of that church, saved during the past two thousand years, will be caught away in resurrection bodies and escorted to their heavenly home by the Lord Himself. There are three things mentioned in connection with this great event: (1) the shout of the Lord, (2) the voice of the archangel, and (3) the trump of God. Why should this be? We can understand the first, the shout of the Lord, for the fact that it is for His beloved and blood-bought church that he is coming, explains that. But why these attendant voices; the presence of which has caused some to discard this whole passage as having no relation to the church, the body of Christ? We feel that it is because this event will have far-reaching consequences.

With the dispensation of grace ended, and with the church no longer on the scene, God now returns to His end time program, the period between the rapture and the revelation. This period is marked by apostasy, antichrist, Armageddon, and the advent of Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords. God is now concluding man's day and ushering in the Day of the Lord.

Mankind is divided into three circles in the dispensational program of God, as noted in 1 Corinthians 10:32, namely, the Church, the nation Israel, and the Gentiles, or the rest of mankind. In connection with each of these three the Lord is to have special glory. Therefore, we would suggest that all three of these circles are involved in this passage.

The Shout of the Lord

has to do particularly with the Church. By far the most of the members of that Church have already left this life by way of death and the grave. But every one such, together with those saints who are alive and remain, shall answer instantly to that assembling shout of the Lord. In an instant of time they will appear, radiant and glorious, in His presence. When the Lord stood at Lazarus' grave, and cried with a loud voice, he that was dead came forth. Even so at that future shout of the Lord every sleeping saint will "come forth" from death's domain. But whereas Lazarus was raised in the same kind of body he had before, and so died again, those raised at the rapture will be raised in glorified and deathless bodies. Then also the living saints will be changed and together with those gone before, will be caught away to be with Christ their Head in glory. This is the blessed hope of the Church; to hear the shout of the Lord; to be forever with him.

Forever with the Lord,
Amen, so let it be;
Life from the dead is in that word,
'Tis immortality.

Here in the body pent,
Absent from Him I roam;
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent,
A day's march nearer home.

The Voice of the Archangel

is Michael's voice, and he is the angel who has the special care of Israel (see Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude 9; also Rev. 12:7). When the shout of the Lord breaks forth, it shall find an instant response in the Church. Michael's voice will also be heard gathering Israel together. He will arise for this great work. This work will be much slower in its accomplishment. The devil and his angels will have to be cast down from heaven before the woman clothed with the sun can enter into her glory and inheritance (Rev. 12). And the people of Israel themselves will have to pass through the great tribulation, for "there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time," but Michael will then stand up for them, and they shall be delivered (Dan. 12:1). The wheels will move more slowly for the deliverance of Israel than in the case of the Church but they will assuredly be set in motion in connection with that great shout of the Lord.

The Trump of God

has a wider application. It is with God that all men have to do. It might appear to the uninstructed observer that men can live as they please, without any regard for God, and do so with impunity; but the trump of God will break His long silence and end His longsuffering. It will signal the close of the day of grace. Things will be changed, and every creature will discover that they have to do with God in Judgment. The nations will not immediately appear before Him, for the wheels in their case will work even more slowly than those which bring about Israel's deliverance. Yet the day will come when all nations shall be taken to the glorious throne of the Son of Man for judgment, "and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" (Matt. 25:32). The day is also coming that all the dead, small and great, shall stand before God; and Christ himself, as God, will be the Judge. "Because God has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

The whole of God's intentions in relation to the earth are held in abeyance until the Church is taken out of it, but when the shout of the Lord is heard, and the Church has been removed from the scene, then things will begin to move swiftly toward their fulfillment. The stage will then be set for the final great act in God's drama of the ages, and so the voice of the archangel and the trump of God will be heard, thereby setting in operation the machinery that will bring about the deliverance of Israel, and the subjugation of all nations and men.

GRACE TODAY AND TOMORROW

By C. R. Stam

Paul learned what thousands upon thousands of God’s saints have learned from his day to ours: that it is often more blessed to experience God’s grace in suffering than to enjoy deliverance from suffering, for in the former case we lean the harder and pray the more, and so are drawn closer to Him. Moreover, we find that His strength is made perfect in weakness and that when we are weak, then are we strong (II Cor. 12:9,10).


But even better things are in store for God’s people: Someday, "in the ages to come," God will display to all the universe "the exceeding riches of His grace." How will He do this? "In His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).


Dear reader, have you accepted the grace of God in Christ Jesus? Do you believe that He loves you and that He "came into the world" to bear all the blame and shame and punishment that was your due, so that you might be "justified freely by His grace" (Rom. 3:24)?

If not, will you take Him at His Word now and come to know the truth of II Cor. 4:15:

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."

Whatever your past; however great or many your sins, take God at His Word. Believe that He loves you in spite of all. Believe that He has already provided the payment for your sins in Christ:

"In whom we have redemption. through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

Committed unto Your Trust

Colossians 1:25
 
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between the master and his stewards is one built upon trust. The master places his possessions into the hands of a steward. He will be reluctant to do this unless that man has proven himself trustworthy. The apostle Paul found no shame in claiming to be a faithful steward of God (1 Corinthians 4:1). As such, he understood the principle that the ministry was placed under his care because God had entrusted it to him (1 Corinthians 9:17; Colossians 1:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Timothy 1:11; Titus 1:3). This fact affected everything the apostle said and did. This truth constantly reminded him that he did not live for himself, and that one day he must give an account for his stewardship.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(For children): God called Samuel to judge His people. When the people asked for a king instead to judge them, Samuel’s description of his service (1 Samuel 12:1-5) along with his advice to the people (which he followed throughout his ministry) (1 Samuel 12:20b) proved he could be trusted.

(For everyone): What has God entrusted into your care? Do you treat your family, or ministry, or work as though it belongs to the Lord? How would things change if you did?
How could this truth be considered a blessing? How could this truth be considered a curse? What is the proper balance that a believer should seek?

PRAYER NEEDS
Ask the Lord to help you walk worthy of your calling.
Ask God to help you to be faithful with His possessions.

The Steward Owns Nothing

1 Chronicles 28:1

INTRODUCTION

The steward is not distinguished for his own possessions but, rather, for the care of another’s possessions. This is true of the life and ministry of every believer. He has been purchased by the blood of Christ and claims nothing as his own. If he has a family, his family is a blessing from God still belonging to God. If he has any ministries, they too belong to God. Even his own spirit, soul, and body belong to the Lord and not to himself (1 Corinthians 6:20
). Understanding these truths makes a steward prosper in his walk with the Lord and in his service to the Lord. He recognizes and accepts that life is not all about him. He knows that every aspect of life should revolve around caring for each of the possessions of his heavenly Master.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children):  John 1:3
  tells us God made everything. It all belongs to Him. This includes the world and the people (Psalm 24:1
  ), all animals and birds (Psalm 50:10-11 ), all money (Haggai 2:8
  ), and even you (Ezekiel 18:4
  ; Romans 14:8
  ). Take care of those things He has put in your possession or under your control.
• (For everyone): Do you have a family? Do you have children? To whom did they belong before they were yours? Whose will they be long after this world ceases to exist? Whose are they now? How should this change your dealings with them?
• What do you have that does not belong to God? How should that change the way you use the things placed under your care?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to remind you that everything belongs to Him.
• Thank God for trusting you to care for His possessions.

Temptations Are Not the Same

Genesis 22:1

INTRODUCTION

When a believer considers the Bible’s use of “temptation,” he most often associates its usage to something sinful. Though this may be the scripture’s most common usage of the word, context must always be the determining factor. God undeniably tempted Abraham, yet the temptation was not meant to bring about sin. The temptation served as a test of Abraham’s faith. Basically, temptation functions as a means to try one’s faith. James 1:2-3 clearly offers the connection as it incorporates the words “temptations” and “trying” interchangeably. The author, the purpose, and the circumstances surrounding temptations will vary, but the underlying premise remains constant. Each believer must learn how to discern the specifics when tempted.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children):  Psalm 11:5
  says, “The Lord trieth the righteous.” Job knew he was being tried as he had done nothing worthy of losing all his possessions, his health, and most of his family (Job 1:1
  ; Job 23:10
  ). As Job was tried, God revealed Job’s character to Satan. Satan hoped Job would sin, but he refused to do so (Job 1:11
  , 22; Job 2:5
  , 9-10).
• (For everyone): Why is it important for believers to study the various details of temptation? How could this study help believers find victory during any times of temptation?
• Have you ever been tempted? What was the source of the temptation? Were you able to get victory over the temptation, or did you fall into sin? What could you have done differently?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to teach you about scriptural temptation.
• Ask the Lord to give you wisdom when tempted.

HYMN

CLEANSE ME

The Desire to Please

1 Thessalonians 2:4

INTRODUCTION

A good steward is recognized for his strong desire to please his master. For this reason, he does not expend the majority of his time and energy toward pleasing other stewards. He recognizes his first responsibility as accountability toward his master. So long as he pleases his master, all other issues will adequately fall into their rightful place. So it is with the steward of God. It is not that he lacks any desire to please others, but this desire pales in comparison to his desire to please the Lord. Simply put, he does not allow others to conflict with his primary responsibility of pleasing his Master. Unfortunately, this issue has become one of the most significant hindrances facing modern Christianity—the inordinate desire men have to please one another rather than the One that matters most.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Jesus always pleased His heavenly Father (John 8:29
  ). Enoch too had a testimony of pleasing God (Hebrews 11:5
  ). It is our Christian duty to do the same (1 Thessalonians 4:1
  ). As children, learn how to please God by learning obedience toward your parents (Colossians 3:20
  ). 
• (For everyone): Is it unhealthy for children to desire to please their parents while they are young? Should they eventually come to a place where they do the right thing for other reasons? How is this like Christianity?
• Do you desire to please God? How will your desire to please Him also please the right kind of people?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to strengthen your desire to please Him.
• Ask God to give you a deeper love for Him.

The Steward’s Reward - 1 Corinthians 9:17

INTRODUCTION

Learning how to be the right kind of steward can seem difficult, but never without reward. The Lord Jesus taught and explained His parables of stewardship. In these teachings, He presented the faithful steward receiving his reward at the time of accounting for his stewardship. The apostle Paul confessed this truth in 1 Corinthians 9:17

when he said, “if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward.” Paul knew God had a special calling upon his life and also knew he would stand before God to give account for his service. In like manner, each believer will one day stand before the Master (Jesus Christ) to give an account of his stewardship. Those who have served as good stewards will receive reward, while those who failed to do so will suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

(For children): How do you feel when dad or mom says, “Good job”? God has a work for every believer to do and it will not go unnoticed (2 Chronicles 15:7; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 22:12. What do you think it would be like after your life’s work is finished to hear Him say, “Well done” (Matthew 25:23 a)?

(For everyone): Have you faithfully served in your stewardship for the Lord? Are there areas you would go back and change at this point? How would you like to finish?

Do you desire to please the Lord? Do you want to receive rewards from Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ? What would have to change in order to receive those rewards?

PRAYER NEEDS

Ask God to help you finish your stewardship well.

Ask God to remind you that a day of accounting is coming.

HYMN

WE’LL WORK TILL JESUS COMES

The Character of a Steward - Titus 1:7

INTRODUCTION

Every trustworthy steward must possess a high level of moral character. This is demonstrated in the qualifications of a bishop. As a steward of God, he must not be self-willed. He must recognize that his life and his possessions are not his own. In addition to this, he must not be easily distracted, overcome by anger, wine, fightings, or money. Each of these issues affects the individual’s ability to think and rationally behave. As a steward, a man must dedicate himself to a high level of character and morality. After all, the definition of the steward means that he has been entrusted not with his own work or possessions but with those of his master. As stewards of God, believers must not allow themselves to become distracted from the task at hand, always properly caring for the things of God.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

(For children): Noah’s testimony remained proper and true in the midst of a godless world. While he was building the ark, he preached to the people to get right with God. He remained true to God and subsequently saved his family from the impending doom (Genesis 6:5-9 ; Genesis 7:1-7).

(For everyone): What if you were hiring someone to care for your most prized possessions? What kind of traits would be most important to you? What would be the most important things to consider before offering to hire the individual?

What are some character flaws you have that might hinder you as a steward of God? What should you do to fix those and make them right?

PRAYER NEEDS

Ask the Lord to prepare you to be a better steward for Him.

Ask God to show you any areas in which you need to repent.

HYMN

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

The Authors of Temptation

Matthew 4:1-3

INTRODUCTION

Discerning the difference between the workings of God and the mischief of Satan sometimes serves as a difficult task for believers. Although the Devil is called the tempter in Matthew 4:3
and 1 Thessalonians 3:5
, the Bible also shows that God uses temptation to try a man (Genesis 22:1
). Other than the association to instigating temptation, God and Satan have no other common ground in this matter. The Devil’s motive and method of temptation is simply wicked. On the other hand, the Lord tempts only for the sake of trying one’s faith to bring about a righteous outcome. Do not discount the fact that God never tempted anyone with evil (James 1:13
).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Consider the story of Joseph. His faith and obedience were tested by God (Psalm 105:16-21 ). Yet, Satan always tempts people to do evil. Consider Judas (John 13:2
  ) and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3
  ).
• Why is it important to be able to discern whether the instigator of your temptation is the Lord or the Devil? How can this affect your response to the temptation?
• What foundational distinctions can be found in the temptations of God and the temptations of Satan? How do these specific distinctions reflect the character of God versus Satan?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you discernment in times of temptation.
• Ask God to show you the desire of your enemy to destroy.

Every Man Is Tempted When

Every Man Is Tempted When . . . - James 1:13-15

The context of today’s passage confirms that it involves the temptation to do evil. This shows that the author of the temptation is not God, nor can it ever be Him in this context. The death of the one being tempted is the end result. This is why it is so very important for every believer to achieve a scriptural understanding of the source of his temptation. According to James 1:14, “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” The first step of any temptation is a drawing away. If a man refuses to be drawn away, he simply cannot be tempted to do wrong. If a man allows himself to be drawn away, the Devil’s next step involves enticement. It is often at this point that the Devil captures his prey leading him into sin.

(For smaller children) Eve did not know that the serpent was the Devil, but she did know God’s command. She allowed herself to be drawn away from the truth and enticed by the Devil (Genesis 3:1-6, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3). Compare Genesis 3:6

with 1 John 2:16

.

What does it mean to be drawn away? What does it mean to be enticed? At what point does a temptation become sin? How can this understanding help to ensure the believer’s ability to get victory?

What kind of things does the Devil use to draw you away from walking with the Lord? What can you do to make sure that you do not fall prey to his devices?

PRAYER NEEDS

Ask the Lord to guard you from the attacks of Satan.

Ask God to help you walk circumspectly in this world.

A New Beginning

During the course of the past year, many of us have faced some sort of trial, test, setback, or disappointment. Some of us have even experienced failure. But in spite of all of that, God has prepared this year, this moment in time for you to have a new beginning.

The enemy's objective is to keep you locked in yesterday, the place where the pain originates from. God has a different plan for your life. He knows all about the things that have gone wrong. He's not surprised at some of the questionable decisions that you have made. He's knows that you have let Him down. He is not shocked at all.

The good news is that He also knows your future. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17)
When you have life in Christ, you have the ability to experience new possibilities in life.There is a season of new opportunities that await you and you must be willing to pursue it. Victory in this new year takes some understanding.

You were not created by accident. You were made by God himself. God is the creator of the heavens and the earth. He designed you to live for a unique reason. When He made you, He pulled out all the stops. You are His prized creation.

You were made to overcome obstacles. You were made for victory. He didn't create you to blend in with the scenery. Out of over six billion people in the world, there is only one like you. So, don't be shut off or boxed in by traditions or customs. Don't be held back by someone else's expectations. You were created for brilliance and excellence. You were made for success.

Before planting seeds, the ground must first be prepared. The ground must first be dug up and turned over in order to receive seeds. In the same way, we must cultivate our lives so that we will be able to yield a successful harvest. We must do some work in order for our lives to be ready for a new beginning. We have to make choices and not yield to the power of sin. As we choose God's way, the Holy Spirit will strengthen us even more.

There are some spiritual disciplines that we must develop to cultivate our lives:

* Prayer--Not just asking God for things but communing with Him.

* Giving--We must change our perspective on our possessions.

* Studying the Word--We must take in His promises daily.

* Serving--We should always look for ways to improve someone else's life.

There is a lot of noise in this world. There are people shouting from every angle, trying to get your attention. To be able to distinguish between the voices, you need to be able to listen very closely. God is always speaking; we just have to listen for Him. The time is come to get your hearing in order. The alarm has sounded.

What is the sign that you are waiting for? The light has already turned green and you are clear to begin your journey. Step away from the crowd. Separate yourself from the average people who don't want anything other than what they have always had. You have been called out to make a difference. You have been called out reclaim territory for God and live out your destiny.It's time for your New Beginning.
Michael J. Knight 


Public Notice:
During the month of Sept. '14, it was laid on my heart to no longer actively pursue New Advertising Accounts... I was told that if someone "NEW" wanted to advertise they would call and a few did call... 
As I approached the end of 2016, I felt the need to no longer accept any New  Advertisers and to cut my work load, since The StarLight News was never about money and I am content with a 16 Page Tab, this will be an easy task...


I will, however, continue to make monthly sales calls to the existing advertisers and hand deliver the monthly publication to 100s of locations through out Washington Parish as long as I am physically able... 
At some point in time, I will have to discontinue delivering due to health reasons and will move the entire operation of The StarLight News to the Internet Only ( http://the-starlight-news.blogspot.com/ )...

There are three other publications in Washington Parish that will be glad to help you in your paper advertising needs... 

I have set a goal of June '17 with the paper and will decide then whether to continue in written or digital...
Sincerely,
Richard Spurlock, editor...

What sort of New Years Resolution should a Christian make?

by Michael Steffen

The practice of making a New Year's Resolution goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December
31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of a New Year's Resolution. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year's Resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year's Resolutions are: to quit smoking, to quit drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year's Resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." The vast majority of New Year's Resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year's Resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, to attend church more regularly, etc., etc. These are fantastic goals! However, these New Year's Resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions. Why? Because there is no power in a New Year's Resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." John 15:5 declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." If God is the center of your New Year's Resolution, it has chance for success – depending on your commitment to it. If it is God's will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God's Word – we will not receive God's help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year's Resolution should a Christian make? 
(1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; 
(2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you;
(3) Rely on God's strength to help you; 
(4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; 
(5) Don't become discouraged with occasional failures, instead allow them to motivate you further; 
(6) Don't become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5- 6, "Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." Amen

WHAT ARE YOU DOING SECRETLY?

"[The LORD] said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, "The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land."’ Again, he said, ‘You will see them doing things that are even more detestable’" (Ezekiel 8:12-13 NIV).

Some people of the Judah had been deported to Babylon because of the sins of the people. In spite of this, the other people in the land of Judah continued in their sins. The Spirit of God lifted Prophet Ezekiel up in visions and took him to the city of Jerusalem to show him some of the detestable things that the people of Judah were doing secretly. Interestingly, the people were thinking that because God had forsaken them due to their sins, He did not see them as they continued in the sins. The Spirit showed Ezekiel from one place to the other as these people were doing more and more detestable things that were not hidden from God (see Ezekiel 8). Definitely, these people were punished for their sins (see Ezekiel 9).

Many people like those Jews in Ezekiel’s time are doing bad things secretly today thinking that God does not see them. The psalmist vividly described such people and concluded, "Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile" (Psalm 94:9-11 NIV). Some are doing bad things secretly because they have been disappointed in one way or the other. Others are doing so because they are just wicked. Most of such people prefer acting in the secret or darkness because they would not want their wickedness to be exposed (cf. John 3:19-21).

What are you doing secretly thinking that nobody sees you? If nobody sees you, God does! What are you thinking secretly in your heart right now? Would you be proud of your secret acts and thoughts when they are exposed? You may hide things from man. You cannot hide them from God. Always remember the conclusion of the writer of the Ecclesiastes, "For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (12:14 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Prayer Point: Pray that God will deliver you from secret/hidden sins.

Be Of Good Cheer

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (NKJV)

One of my brothers-in-law has had some serious health issues this year. He has spent many weeks in hospital, endured innumerable tests, and undergone several surgeries. After many attempts at resolution, all of which were ultimately futile, he had to have a leg amputated. He has borne uncertainty, anxiety, and extreme pain.

And yet, when I visit him now, I don't encounter a morose or sombre individual, moaning or feeling sorry for himself. Instead, I encounter a funny, vibrant man who seems determined to overcome his difficulties and live a full and happy life regardless of the circumstances. The nurses and other healthcare professionals who are attending him have remarked that his attitude isn't just good for him, it's rubbing off on other patients, who are now also taking a more positive outlook on their own situations. Visiting with him and my sister isn't an obligation — though it is an obligation I would gladly undertake — but a joy. It's fun!

God calls us to be cheerful. He calls us to face life with hope and with joy, buoyed and supported by our faith. When times are difficult and life looks bleak, let us look into the Word of God. Let us look to our faith. For whenever we face life with hope and good cheer, we are doing as God has commanded us. And let us be assured that by doing so, we will not only feel better ourselves, but also be an inspiration to others.

Prayer: Thank You, God, for the gift of faith and for the gift of joy. Help us always to be cheerful and to face our future with hope and confidence. Help us to find inspiration in others and to inspire them in return. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Scott Williams

Living a Deliverance Life

For God the Father has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

In Chuck Swindoll's book, The Finishing Touch, there's a story told about how hard it is to live in deliverance and freedom when you've been in bondage for a long time.

The scene is a marketplace in northern India where people brought their wares to trade and sell. One old farmer brought in a whole covey of quail he had caught. He hoped to get the attention of passersby by tying strings to a ring fastened to a stick in the ground, which was then tied around the leg of each bird. With all that secure, the birds just walked in a circle, minute by minute, hour after hour.

Sadly, his PR ploy didn't attract much attention. It seemed nobody wanted these birds at all. But then along came a devout Hindu man, who believed in the idea of respect for all life, and his heart literally went out for these birds that were confined and were now merely walking in a monotonous circle when they were meant to fly.

He told the farmer, "I want to buy them all." So he did, and right after that he said to the farmer, "Set them all free. You heard me. Cut the strings from their legs and turn them loose. Set them free."

But a strange thing happened. Cut loose, you'd have thought those birds would have joyfully flown away, but they didn't. They simply continued to march around and around in a circle.

A little frustrated, the Hindu man shooed them off, but they only landed some distance away and they resumed their predictable march.

Freed from their bonds they just kept going round and round in circles as if they were still tied to the stake!

I sometimes think that in life, we Christians are a bit like these birds. When the Bible says we have been set free -- delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Father's beloved Son -- we seem to keep walking in the circles of our own wisdom and strength. In the sermon yesterday, I talked about the rescue of those Chilean miners in 2010. What an incredible story! But the rest of the story is that after that magnificent rescue many of the miners went back to very destructive patterns in their lives, which prevented them from making the most of this miraculous deliverance.

So here's a thought for today: you have been delivered from sin, death and the devil himself. Your eternal deliverance is sure in Jesus Christ. The strings have been cut; the strings that have kept you bound to your guilt, your sin, your fears -- they're gone. You have a Savior who wants you not just to be free, but free to follow Him in all things. Take a moment today and think about what it means to live in forgiveness, to live in grace, to live in mercy, and act towards others the way Jesus has acted on your behalf. That's a way of life that doesn't walk in circles but walks in purpose towards an eternal destiny that Christ assures for all who trust in Him. That's pretty amazing stuff.

Wouldn't you agree?

Take a chance today. Quit walking in circles and follow the Lord, who has given you wings to fly!

THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, because of Your life and Your death and resurrection, You have given me real freedom, real deliverance, wings to fly. Help me soar in obedience to You as I trust in You each and every day. Amen.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries

Seven Subtle Symptoms of Pride

Fabienne Harford

Pride will kill you. Forever. Pride is the sin most likely to keep you from crying out for a Savior. Those who think they are well will not look for a doctor.

As seriously dangerous as pride is, it’s equally hard to spot. When it comes to diagnosing our heart, those of us have the disease of pride have a challenging time identifying our sickness. Pride infects our eyesight, causing us to view ourselves through a lens that colors and distorts reality. Pride will paint even our ugliness in sin as beautiful and commendable.

We can’t conclude that we don’t struggle with pride because we don’t see pride in our hearts. The comfortable moments that I find myself on the back for how well I am doing are the moments that should alarm me the most. I need to reach for the glasses of Christ-like humility, remembering that nothing good dwells in my flesh, and search my heart for secret pride and its symptoms.

In his essay on [undetected pride][(http://www.grace-abounding.com/Articles/Sin/Pride_Edwards.htm), Jonathan Edwards points out seven sneaky symptoms of the infection of pride.

1. Fault-Finding

While pride causes us to filter out the evil we see in ourselves, it also causes us to filter out God’s goodness in others. We sift them, letting only their faults live in our perception of them.

When I’m sitting in a sermon or studying a passage, it’s pride that prompts the terrible temptation to skip the Spirit’s surgery on my own heart and instead draft a mental blog post or plan a potential conversation for the people who “really need to hear this.”

Edwards, writes,

The spiritually proud person shows it in his finding fault with other saints . . . . The eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home and sees so much evil in his own that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts.

2. A Harsh Spirit

Those who have the sickness of pride in their hearts speak of others’ sins with contempt, irritation, frustration, or judgment. Pride is crouching inside our belittling of the struggles of others. It’s cowering in our jokes about the ‘craziness’ of our spouse. It may even be lurking in the prayers we throw upward for our friends that are — subtly or not — tainted with exasperated irritation.

Again Edwards, “Christians who are but fellow-worms ought at least to treat one another with as much humility and gentleness as Christ treats them.”

3. Superficiality

When pride lives in our hearts, we’re far more concerned with others’ perception of us than the reality of our hearts. We fight the sins that have an impact on how others view us, and make peace with the ones that no one sees. We have great success in the areas of holiness that have highly visible accountability, but little concern for the disciplines that happen in secret.

4. Defensiveness

Those who stand in strength of Christ’s righteousness alone find a confident hiding place from the attacks of men and Satan alike. True humility is not knocked off balance and thrown into a defensive posture by challenge or rebuke, but instead continues in doing good, entrusting the soul to our faithful creator.

Edwards says, “For the humble Christian, the more the world is against him, the more silent and still he will be, unless it is in his prayer closet, and there he will not be still.”

5. Presumption Before God

Humility approaches God with humble assurance in Christ Jesus. If either the “humble” or the “assurance” are missing in that equation, our hearts very well might be infected with pride. Some of us have no shortage of boldness before God, but if we’re not careful we can forget that he is God.

Edwards writes, “Some, in their great rejoicing before God, have not paid sufficient regard to that rule in Psalm 2:11 — ‘Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling.’”

Others of us feel no confidence before God. Which sounds like humility, but in reality it’s another symptom of pride. In those moments, we’re testifying that we believe our sins are greater than his grace. We doubt the power of Christ’s blood and we’re stuck staring at ourselves instead of Christ.

6. Desperation for Attention

Pride is hungry for attention, respect, and worship in all its forms.

Maybe it sounds like shameless boasting about ourselves. Maybe it’s being unable to say ‘no’ to anyone because we need to be needed. Maybe it looks like obsessively thirsting for marriage — or fantasizing about a better marriage — because you’re hungry to be adored. Maybe it looks like being haunted by your desire for the right car or the right house or the right title at work: all because you seek the glory that comes from men, not God.

7. Neglecting Others

Pride prefers some people over others. It honors those who the world deems worthy of honor, giving more weight to their words, their wants, and their needs. There’s a thrill that goes through me when people with ‘power’ acknowledge me. We consciously or unconsciously pass over the weak, the inconvenient, and the unattractive, because they don’t seem to offer us much.

Maybe more of us struggle with pride than we thought.

There’s good news for the prideful. Confession of pride signals the beginning of the end for pride. It indicates the war is already being waged. For only when the Spirit of God is moving, already humbling us, can we remove the lenses of pride from our eyes and see ourselves clearly, identifying the sickness and seeking the cure.

By God’s grace, we can turn once again to the glorious gospel in which we stand and make much of him even through identifying our pride in all its hiding places inside of us. Just as my concealed pride once moved me toward death, so the acknowledgement of my own pride moves me toward life by causing me to cling more fiercely to the righteousness of Christ.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23–24)