08.03.14 am – Mark Day – Last Days
08.03.14 pm – Mark Day – Ahaz: Here’s Your Sign
08.03.14 am – Mark Day – Last Days
08.03.14 pm – Mark Day – Ahaz: Here’s Your Sign
Paul reminded the Corinthians, who were arrogant in spite of their many spiritual flaws, to examine themselves. In regard to the manner of observing the Lord’s Supper, Paul said, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” In regard to the manner in which we approach the Lord in worship we should examine our motives and actions. Later, in 2 Corinthians, after responding to their scrutiny of him, Paul bids them to take a taste of their own medicine by saying, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” The Corinthians, like all Christians, needed to do a spiritual inventory to make sure they had enough of the proper faith.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will recognize our shortcomings and see the need for improvements in our Christian lives. In our prayers, we should be like the apostles who on one occasion called on the Lord to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Like the father of the demoniac who cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24), we also have a part of us that believes and a part of us that doubts. We must increase that part which believes.
How do we increase our faith? By imbibing of the word of God. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” At the Jerusalem conference, Peter mentioned the conversion of the first Gentiles by saying, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe” (Acts 15:7). The word of the gospel is how faith comes and how it increases. We must take time to read and meditate upon God’s word so that we have sufficient faith (Psalm 1:1-3; 119:97; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Times will come in our lives when our faith is tested. It will either become firmer or fail. When the apostles were out on the sea caught in a terrible storm they feared; Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). When it comes to the storms of life, where is your faith? Will you have fortified your faith enough to remain true to God even in dark days? James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” If our faith passes the test, then we can be assured that God will carry us through to the heavenly goal. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
Ask yourself these questions about your faith:
Where is my faith?
Is my faith stronger now than when I obeyed the gospel?
Am I more active in the work of the Lord now than one, five, or ten years ago?
Do I visit the sick?
Do I have personal Bible studies with others?
How much time a week, beside that spent in regular church services, do I take to spend time in prayer and Bible study alone and with my family?
-Mark Day
07.27.14 am – Mark Day – God’s Love
07.27.14 pm – Mark Day – The Prophets of Jotham’s Reign
2 Chronicles 27:6
As Christians, we ought to look to our Lord as the ultimate example of service. What the Bible reveals about what He did for people during the brief time He lived on this earth stirs within us a desire imitate Him who, “…came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Our Lord gave up His place in heaven to relate to mankind in a very personal way (John 1:14; Philippians 2:4-7). He was very present with each individual with whom He came in contact, and His one-on-one work with individuals left them forever changed (John 4). The multitudes thronged about Him (Luke 8:42), and He had compassion on them because they were as sheep having no shepherd (Mark 6:34). Whether it was early in the morning (Luke 21:38) or late at night (John 3:2), He made Himself available to assist people in learning the truth that would save their souls.
However, the One who came down from heaven did not spent all of His time healing people and answering questions about God’s word. He also spent time alone in prayer and meditation. Even though His overall mission was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), He on occasions withdrew Himself (Luke 5:16). In fact He did not even begin public service until the proper age of thirty (Luke 3:23). Think about it. If Jesus spent time growing in knowledge and wisdom before embarking on His public ministry (Luke 2:52), and if He spent time helping His disciples learn before sending them out into all the world to continue the work (Mark 1:17; John 14:9), then should we not spend time preparing to serve prior to embarking into service?
Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” Is it wisdom’s course to take time to sharpen the ax before laying into the tree? Yes. Though no tree chopping is taking place during the sharpening process, the overall process of felling the tree will be more efficient with a sharp blade. Satan has made sure that we have plenty of false ideas growing up all around us. Now we can hack away at them with a dull ax and eventually get the job done, but we can cut down much more of the forest of falsehoods if we have spent the proper time getting sharp. It makes sense to take some time preparing to do the work God has given us to do.
Thus time alone in study and prayer is not selfish, it can actually be a part of service to others. Wouldn’t your time spent in relating to others in evangelism or edification be helped by your own personal development? What if you knew the exact passage to direct some to that would help their misunderstanding? What if you did not overreact to an insult because you had spent quality time in prayer that day? What if you had so prepared yourself that you could be a blessing to everyone who would see your example or seek your counsel? That is what Jesus did. Though there are a host of differences between Jesus and us due to His nature as God in the flesh, He still spent time preparing and we should too.
-Mark Day
07.20.14 am – Mark Day – Joshua
07.20.14 pm – The Price of Presumption