A wise man is strong and a man of knowledge increases strength. While the world focuses on physical strength, the greater strength is that which is spiritual.
Most people view sin as a private or earthy matter. Yet, every sin is against the Lord. In truth, men can sin against the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
A man’s salutation can serve as the initial window to the condition of his heart. To understand this truth, consider Nabal's salutation concerning David.
It is imperative that each believer not only do what is right, but also examine himself to make sure that he is doing what is right for the right reasons.
It is always right to do right, but it is more perfectly right to do right for the right reasons. In other words, serve the Lord, but do so out of a pure motive.
One must choose his reward for actions taken. Would he rather receive eternal reward from God the Father, or temporary praise and recognition from his peers?
Most men’s attention focuses upon the outward appearance of conviction. Yet, the Bible is clear that conviction’s initial work does not exhibit itself outwardly. According to Psalm 73:21, Asaph was grieved in his heart and pricked in his reins. No doubt, this work eventually manifested itself outwardly. Yet, conviction began in the heart where only God and the troubled individual could be aware of its work. Unfortunately, men have focused so much attention upon the outward signs of conviction that they fail to recognize the inner working of conviction. Because of this misplaced emphasis, Christianity continues to produce temporary, carnal, and fake conviction, ultimately producing another hypocrite. If the work does not originate within the heart, it is not of God and it is not conviction.
One of the enemies of righteousness is the type of ungodly anger exhibited all too frequently by so many believers. The Bible says that this type of anger is to have no part in the believer’s life. The apostle Paul gave this admonition, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8). Contextually, it is evident that the anger referenced is not a godly anger against unrighteous things, but an ungodly anger that finds its frustration in things that should not induce one to be angry or wrathful. Unfortunately, believers are far from exempt from this type of sinful anger. This is nothing new since David warned against such anger when he said, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
The world justifies an almost unlimited range of reasons for divorce, but the Lord is much more narrow-minded. In fact, the Lord only offered one just cause for divorce in Matthew 19:9. An excellent cross reference (Deuteronomy 24:1) indicates that the fornication mentioned involves an uncleanness found within the woman that took place prior to marriage. If this be true, even adultery fails to qualify as scriptural grounds for divorce. One might argue that the Lord broadened this scope when speaking of the unbelieving spouse leaving the believer, but even there the Lord said to the believing husband, “let him not put her away” (1 Corinthians 7:12) and to the believing wife, “let her not leave him” (1 Corinthians 7:13).
God expects man to face his problems, but He does not expect man to resolve those problems independently. Ultimately, God desires to hear the burdens of the heart even if the burdens or cares have been brought upon man by his own wrongdoing. God, knowing the condition of Adam and Eve, made a point to visit them. He obviously knew Adam’s location but knew it was best for Adam to acknowledge the problem. He wanted Adam to tell Him about the problems brought on by sin. In like manner, God knows what man has need of before it is ever brought to Him in prayer (Matthew 6:8), but He still desires for man to come to Him for help.
