Grace 809

Transcript

Paul of Seattle.

It’s Epistle Sunday, and the epistle we’ll be from today is Paul’s epistle to  Titus. We’ll read all three chapters, after which I’ll have some comments for you. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “Respect.”

After Paul’s salutation in the first chapter, he tells Titus what he should be looking for in men who would be leaders in the church there in Crete. It was important to get men of integrity who were above reproach because there were some in their midst who were causing trouble. Especially (in Paul’s words) “those of the circumcision”. 

What he meant by that was old-school Jewish men. The reason that was a problem is that they were trying to teach that the people should follow the old Jewish laws of doing the various sacrifices and dietary restrictions and a host of other things that are no longer necessary, because the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus did away with those things. 

The message of the Gospel, which means Good News, is that Jesus was the final and perfect sacrifice once and for all those who believe in Him. The Law put people under bondage, but Jesus brought grace, which makes us free. 

In chapter two, Paul talked about how believers should behave so as to not bring dishonor to God. Some of the language sounds politically incorrect to our 21st century ears, especially in regards to how women should act, so I would like to briefly address those things. In regards to young women, Paul says that they should “love their husbands, love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

There’s a lot there, but let me focus on the last part. “workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands,” What Paul was saying was that young wives who had children should not be going about, leaving their children at home, and partying. But they should nurture their children at home in a loving way, and they should be subject to *their own* (not others’) husbands. 

Remember, the men had already been told to be sound in love, and when there is love on both side, the matter of being subject to one another is not a problem. In the book of Ephesians, chapter 5, Paul used similar language. He said that wives should be subject to their own husbands, as they would to the Lord. And he tells husbands to love their w

Transcript

Our reading today John 13-15. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Unity.”  

What Jesus shared with His disciples in these three chapters is so rich that an entire college semester could be devoted to its study. We don’t have that kind of time, so I am going to focus on just two topics. 

Jesus knows that this is the last meal he will share with His disciples before He will be crucified. They are in the Upper Room. They are going to have the Passover meal together. And knowing this is His last time with them, He wants to leave them with some final words. 

God uses repetition in the Bible to emphasize important points. 

John 13: 3x

John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12 My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you.

John 15:17 This I command you – to love one another.

Why was loving one another so critical? Why did Jesus emphasize it so much? 

Jesus will soon be leaving them with a monumental task: to take His message of salvation to the entire world. Eleven men. He knew that in order for them to do this, they had to be united in every way. They had to be focused on the one purpose. They had to love one another. 

He said they were to love each other as He had loved them. And they did not yet know it, but in a few short hours He would demonstrate just what that meant. 

By loving one another, they would be able to overlook petty differences that always come up when people are involved.  1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. 6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.

Where there is love, there is unity. When there is unity, great things can be accomplished. And when God is in it, nothing can stop the mission.

In chapter 15, from verse 18 to the end of the chapter Jesus told them that the world would hate them because it hates Him. In verse 25 he said, Now this happened to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without reason.’ What he means there is they had no *good* reason. Of course they had a reason

Prayer often comes with many questions: Why didn’t God answer my prayer? Why does God allow suffering and evil in the world? Why does prayer even matter? Theologian Dr. Erwin Lutzer answers each of these concerns with empathy for those who struggle with unanswered prayer as he reminds us of God’s trustworthiness and sovereign plan, firmly based on His promises. He shares that prayer isn’t about changing God’s will but aligning ours with Him, as we grow deeper in our relationship with Him.

Receive a copy of Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers? A Biblical Guide to God’s Hidden Purposes and an audio download of "Trusting God When He Doesn't Answer Your Prayers" for your donation of any amount!

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Dr. Erwin Lutzer explains why God didn’t answer one of Jesus’s prayers.

Listen to the Full Program

Receive a copy of Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers? A Biblical Guide to God’s Hidden Purposes and an audio download of "Trusting God When He Doesn't Answer Your Prayers" for your donation of any amount!

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Do you want to see a father’s face go ashen as he discovers three words on the box of a just-bought toy: some assembly required. What follows are hours of squeezing A into B, bolting D into F, sliding R over Z, and hoping no one notices if steps four, five, and six were skipped altogether. I’m convinced the devil indwells the details of toy assembly. Somewhere in perdition is a warehouse of stolen toy parts.

“Some assembly required.” Not the most welcome sentence but an honest one. Life is a gift, albeit unassembled. The pieces don’t fit. When they don’t, take your problem to Jesus. He says, “Bring your problems to me.” In prayer, state them simply. Present them faithfully, and trust him reverently.

Read more Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Paul of Seattle. God bless you!

Our reading today Joel. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Is There A Joel Out There.”  

In studying this book, I came upon a commentary by the 19th century English preacher, Joseph Parker. This man was known as a great orator, so I know I won’t do him justice in quoting him, but these are his words in regards to the prophet Joel: 

“We need a Joel today. For his wages we would award him starvation. He would not live in king’s houses. There is nothing today in Church or state that does not need pulling to pieces, cross examination, analysis, that all that is good therein…and there is much good…may be brought into new cohesion, and set to new and fuller uses. Men are bribing men, and then going to the Sunday school; many are saying, “If you will get this property on these terms through my hands it will be on the understanding that…” and the all but silent reply is…”That will, of course, be understood.” And then they go to church! If some Joel were to come he would be starved, he must be starved. No one ever came to do Messianic work who was not nailed and pierced and crucified. It is in vain to preach peace until we have first preached repentance; it is mischievous to say, peace, peace, where there is no peace; It is iniquity in the sight of God to daub the wall with untempered mortar. Nothing is settled until it is settled at the foundations.”

We don’t speak like that today, do we? Let me try to paraphrase Rev. Parker: We need someone like Joel today. The church and the culture needs to be completely re-examined to find what is good so that there can be a new and unified partnership with them in order for them to be effective. There is corruption and deal making, even among so called believers. It is foolish to call for peace until we first call for repentance, a turning from our sins and to Almighty God. It is wrong in the sight of God to try to bring repairs with corrupt methods and people. Nothing will stand unless the foundation is strong.

As we look at our world today, I think we would have to agree with Rev. Parker’s message. The world is in turmoil. People call for peace and unity, but there is neither peace nor unity. Why? Because God has been expunged from our governments, our schools, our society. We will never have peace until the people turn back to him. 

Several shows back I asked you to pray with me for a world wide revival. I belie

Prayer often comes with many questions: Why didn’t God answer my prayer? Why does God allow suffering and evil in the world? Why does prayer even matter? Theologian Dr. Erwin Lutzer answers each of these concerns with empathy for those who struggle with unanswered prayer as he reminds us of God’s trustworthiness and sovereign plan, firmly based on His promises. He shares that prayer isn’t about changing God’s will but aligning ours with Him, as we grow deeper in our relationship with Him.

Receive a copy of Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers? A Biblical Guide to God’s Hidden Purposes and an audio download of "Trusting God When He Doesn't Answer Your Prayers" for your donation of any amount!

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer explains why Christians need to take prayer more seriously.

Listen to the Full Program

Receive a copy of Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers? A Biblical Guide to God’s Hidden Purposes and an audio download of "Trusting God When He Doesn't Answer Your Prayers" for your donation of any amount!

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Minute, please give us your feedback.

Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” A glimpse of God’s goodness changes us. If He is only slightly stronger than us, why pray?  If He has limitations, questions, and hesitations, then you might as well pray to the Wizard of Oz.

Psalm 68:5-6 says that God is “a father to the fatherless.  He sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity.”

Pray with me! “Dear God. Remind me today that you protect me.  Be my father and defender.  Defend those who are weak and afraid and feel forgotten.  Show up in their lives today. Thank you for giving me a spiritual family that can never be taken away.  I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

At any point you’re only a prayer away from help!

Read more Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Our reading today Proverbs 22. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “What Will They Say?”  

You should want a good name more than you want great riches. To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold.

Proverbs 22:1 NIRV

My wife, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, doesn’t like it when I talk about this, but Proverbs 22:1 brought it to mind, so I must. 

I’m at the age where I sometimes think about how I will be remembered when I’m no longer around. At close to 68 years old, I think I have eased out of middle age. Wouldn’t you agree? As a matter of fact, at this point I have lived longer my biological father, and three of his four brothers. The paternal side of my family didn’t live long lives. My mother’s side of the family mostly lived into their 80’s and 90’s, so it’s anybody’s guess what the chances are that I’ll live to be an old man. I tease about being old now, but 68 really isn’t considered to be old like it was in past generations. Is it??? Maybe I’m just kidding myself.

But I do think about how I’ll be remembered. One thing is for sure, I have no interest at all in being remembered for how wealthy or poor I was. I have never lived my life to see how much wealth I could acquire. Sure, I tried to provide as comfortable life as I could for the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and my kids, but I never made it a goal to see how large I could grow my business or bank account.

I had a childhood friend who I was very close to, even into our twenties. We were both Christians and grew up in middle class families, we played sports together at our high school, and generally had the same values. Around the age of about 30 we began to grow apart, mostly because our lives just got busy with family and trying to earn livings for ourselves. 

But then this friend of mine got into a business that eventually made him a multi-millionaire. It’s a good business. He is well respected in his industry, as far as I know, and he travels the world and has all the trappings of success. Except it does not appear that he has a relationship with the Lord. Again, I am no longer close him, but I see him occasionally. Obviously I can’t know what is in his heart. But I cannot say that there is any observable evidence that Jesus has a place in his life.

Sure, when he is gone people will know that he had great wealth. From that perspective, his life will have bee