The Gravity of Sin

Christians are not meant to be spectators in the sanctifying process. Believers are commanded to strive against their flesh for the sake of holiness and spiritual growth. At the same time, true righteousness is only possible through the power of God. As we’ve seen in recent days, biblical sanctification is a cooperative work between the Lord and His people.

The apostle Paul spells out the paradoxical nature of that cooperative work in Philippians 2:12-13.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.   Continue at John MacArthur

The Disastrous Consequences of Heavy-Handed Leadership

I remember the evening with shameful regret. One of our leadership teams was experiencing some normal ministry struggles resulting in a period of disunity. Though the situation was not disastrous, you may not have known it from my response in the moment. In prideful pomp, I said some regretful words out of a heavy-handed spirit. Later, a brother graciously confronted me. I was amazed at the destructive leadership of which I was easily capable. At that time, God pressed upon me the danger of heavy-handed leadership. It’s subtle, all too prominent, often sinfully excused as “righteous anger,” and, if gone unchecked, will leave a path of carnage.

It is the unmistakable symptom of a kingly motive, looking for any way to build one’s little kingdom. No man is exempt from the intoxicating influence of a little power. Anyone is an easy victim to it. Power is a dangerous thing for a mere man to have; especially a young man new to ministry.

In his younger days, it’s possible that Peter made similar mistakes. Perhaps for that reason, God penned the mandate to future leaders: biblical leadership means not “lording it over those allotted to your charge” (1 Peter 5:3).

To “lord it over” carries the idea of “exercising dominion against someone, for example, to one’s own advantage” (Werner Foerster, TDNT, 3:1098), or, a “heavy-handed use of authority for personal enlargement that is seen in the desire to dominate” (D. Edmond Hiebert, 1 Peter, p. 305). The word is also used of the demon which attacked and “subdued” the seven sons of the high priest in Acts 19:16.  Keep Reading >>>

Encouragement for Mothers Whose Husbands Don’t Attend Church

A Bitter Harvest?

The Bible is very clear about three things:

1. God's way is always the best way (Psalm 119:160).
2. God's way will not always seem the best way to you (Proverb 14:12).
3. What you plant, you will harvest (Galatians 6:7ff).

In every relationship, every day you harvest what you previously planted and plant what you will someday harvest. When division and acrimony take place in a relationship, we aren't experiencing mysterious difficulty. No, sadly, we're harvesting what we have sown.

In this fallen world, where we are always sinners in relationship with sinners, one of the most beautiful and protective things God calls us to is forgiveness.  But forgiveness doesn't always look beautiful to us.  Sometimes holding onto a wrong seems to us to be a better way.  Isn't it amazing that we who rest in and celebrate the forgiveness we have been given, find forgiveness often difficult and unattractive!

Forgiveness and unforgiveness are not neutral;    each plants certain seeds and each produces a certain kind of harvest. So, it is important to consider the relationship-damaging stages of the harvest of unforgiveness. I am deeply persuaded that many, many people are in some way following this path and many of them do not know it. Continue Reading>>>