Hope for Today

If you’re a godly person, you have a favored position because of your delight in the Lord.

I’m reminded of the words of Jesus in John 14:23. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.” There’s no greater joy than having the presence of God Almighty living within you.

The True and Living God, the God of the Bible, is holy. Because He is holy He cannot stand sin. Sin is an offense to Him and it must be punished. His anger and His wrath against sin were satisfied at Calvary when Jesus died on the cross. He is a God who loves you so much that he sent His son Jesus to die in your place. Jesus took the punishment that you deserve!

Now, when you accept, by faith, the sacrifice Jesus made for you, you can be accepted into God’s family. You can belong to him in a personal way. He forgives your sin, you become His child, and He becomes your Lord and Master. Your life will be fruitful and worthwhile; it will have meaning and purpose. It will count for something. That’s the development of the righteous.

But what about the wicked? Our text says they’re like chaff. Chaff! What is chaff? It’s the outer husks that cover the kernel of grain. What’s it good for? Nothing! It’s waste. Worthless! Blown away by the wind when the grain is winnowed. Dusty, irritating, something to be discarded. That’s the description of the wicked. That’s what they have to look forward to. That’s the development from delighting in wickedness.

Not only that, but the Bible tells us that the chaff will be burnt with fire. “Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” That’s Isaiah 5:24.

All the pleasure, all the fun, all the excitement, all the thrill of the forbidden; all gone in a moment. No lasting fruit. And then what? We move to our final difference now.

The Final Difference is:

Accept a Different Destiny

Look at verses five and six. Oh, the tragedy of foolish choices, of identifying with the wicked for a moment of pleasure. The tragedy of thinking there is safety in numbers. It all comes to nothing in the judgment. And make no mistake my friend, judgment will come. Hebrews 9:27 and 28 tell us, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment: so, Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

That’s the contrast, my friend. The Psalm writer says the ungodly shall perish. Not maybe, not perhaps; THEY SHALL PERISH! They will stand condemned by their own choices. “… these shall go away into everlasting punishment:” And, John the Baptist spoke these words at the baptism of Jesus. Listen, “[His] fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

But the righteous, what about them? Verse six says the Lord knows the way of the righteous. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” I pray you’re one of those whose heart is loyal to the Lord.

Because the righteous refused to delight in the way of the wicked, God now delights in them. He knows them as His very own. Because they were grieved by the blasphemy of ungodly men, they now rejoice in the commendation of their Father; “well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

The righteous are accepted by God because they have chosen in faith to obey His Word. They were willing to come to the cross of Christ and voluntarily confess their sin and their need for a Savior. They surrendered the control of their lives to Him. He became their Master and Lord. Because they delighted in Him through the trials and struggles of life, He will delight in them and give them a home with Him in heaven. And they will live and reign with Him forever and ever. Oh, what a glorious destiny awaits those who delight in the Lord.

What a stark contrast my friend. Eternal punishment or eternal glory. And today you can still choose. If you’re living an ungodly life, you can change by the power of God. If you’re already a follower of Christ, you can be challenged to draw closer to Him. To delight in Him more fully. That’s what I want.

You can choose what you will delight in; the way of the wicked or the way of the Lord. But once you make that choice your life will take on development and a destiny that are predetermined. If you choose the way of the ungodly, sorrow and heartache will be the fruit that develops in your life. Destruction will be your end.

Or, you can delight in God and His Word. You can experience the development of lasting fruit, righteousness, peace, and joy. And you will reach the destiny of the righteous. A glorious eternity will be your reward.

My friend, now you know how to live a godly life. The choice is yours. It’s not a choice to be made lightly. Eternity hangs in the balance. Let’s pray.

Oh God, our Father, thank You for these clear instructions on how to live a Godly life. Lord, I pray for my listening friend who is Your child. I pray that he or she will have a renewed delight in You, a new passion to glorify you through a godly life. Bless them Father as they recommit themselves to You even as we pray together.

Now, Father, I pray for my listening friend who does not know you in a personal way. I pray they will come to you today, repent of their sin, and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Help them to understand this decision will change their destiny and the development of their lives and give them a new delight in You. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

As some of you already know, Heralds of Hope is celebrating our 50th Anniversary in 2018. As we look back over those 50 years we can clearly see the hand of God’s blessing on the ministry. On the other hand, as we look ahead, we have many questions about the future. Our Board of Directors is looking to God for wisdom and direction as they actively plan for the next 50 years of ministry for Heralds of Hope.

The future can be exciting; it can also be scary. There’s so much in the future you and I can’t know, and sometimes the unknown is frightening. You and I have fears of bad things happening to us. Maybe fears of where or when the next terrorist strike will come. Or perhaps a fear of meeting with an accident of some kind. An accident that will leave us unable to care for ourselves. Or maybe the dreaded word, cancer, is a real fear for you.

But let me remind you, those kinds of fears don’t come from God. No, those kinds of fears come from the devil. He wants to use those fears to discourage you, distract you, and defeat you. He wants to do the same to me. So, he sends all kinds of fears; real or imaginary.

In contrast to the doubt and fear the devil brings to us, God gives us peace. Now that doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen to us. But it does mean that whatever we face in life, God is with us. Romans 8:28 tells us; “And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose.” That is a promise we can count on!

Today, I have some words of HOPE for you from the Holy Scriptures. If you are a follower of Christ, these words will bring comfort to you. If you are not a follower of Christ, this message should strike fear into your heart. And I pray that fear will motivate you to become a follower of Christ. Nothing would bring me more joy than to have you become a child of God. And God spells out for you in His Word how you can learn to know Him in a personal way.

I want to take you to the book of Psalms for a message of encouragement. I’ve titled the message, “How to Live a Godly Life.” Listen carefully as I read the First Psalm.

Looking at this Psalm I want you to see three DIFFERENCES between the godly and the wicked that will help you know “How to Live a Godly Life.”

The first Difference is:

Notice the contrast in verses one and two. The ungodly person accepts the advice of the wicked. When he has a decision to make, he seeks the advice of those who will tell him what he wants to hear. He approves of the behavior of those who regularly disobey God. He holds them in high regard as his friends. And he delights in those who mock God and His laws.

But if you’re a godly person, you’re different. You shun the advice of the ungodly; their wickedness is a grief to you. And you have only pity for the scornful because you know their end. Your delight is in God’s law, that’s God’s Word. That delight puts you on a completely different path than the wicked. In God’s Word, you find direction for the choices that life offers to all of us.

Let’s think about some of these differences. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 57:20, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.” They have no peace because they’re always seeking some new form of wickedness to delight in. Sin never satisfies the longing of the human heart; the longing for peace, joy, and acceptance.

Wicked people delight in each other’s company. They urge each other on, each one trying to outdo the other. And when there are no immediate consequences from civil authorities or from God, they scoff at the thought of judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:8 says, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” We can clearly see the results of this in our society.

You know, we expect wicked people to show contempt for God’s law. But what really grieves me is, we find contempt for God’s law even among those who profess to follow Christ. So many leaders in organized religion are stumbling over one another in their haste to accept all forms of behavior as acceptable to God. And anyone who attempts to call them back to God’s standard of righteousness is accused of being harsh or unloving.

But as I said earlier, the godly person is different. He delights in God’s law. He knows that following the desires of his own flesh is not freedom, but slavery. He knows the commands God has given for living are for the blessing of mankind, not for his destruction. He knows that the physical life is only a moment in comparison to eternity. He understands that the choices he makes now have eternal consequences. He ponders the truth of God’s Word and asks the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in his life where he needs cleansing and growth. His delight is in becoming more like his heavenly Father.

Which of these persons represents you, my friend? Have you identified yourself with the ungodly? Do you mock God and those who choose to follow in His way? Or maybe you appear on the outside to be a follower of Christ, yet secretly delight in the ways of the wicked? I hope and pray that doesn’t describe you. Because if it does, you’re only fooling yourself. God can see right into the core of your heart and mind. He knows your thoughts. You can’t hide anything from Him. If what I just said describes you, I hope you’ll keep listening to the end of the message, so you can learn what fate awaits you.

Or do you delight in God’s law and use it as a guide for daily living? I hope that’s your choice. Do you make it your goal to please Jesus in everything you do? Do you cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He performs His work of transforming your desires? Are you developing a spirit of wanting to do what’s right? If that’s your experience, there are great things ahead for you. You are learning to express a different delight. That delight will teach you how to live a godly life.

The Second Difference is:

The next contrast between the godly and the wicked is found in verses three and four. The godly person, the one who delights in God’s law and lives by its commands, is described as a tree, planted by the river. He or she is nourished by the waters of the river. Their roots sink deep into the fertile soil gathering the nutrients that bring stability, growth, and fruitfulness. They’re not easily swayed by the winds of life because they’re anchored in the truth.

Their fruitfulness is perpetual, it doesn’t end. Their leaves do not wither because there is continual life flowing through their inner being. Their delight in the Lord sustains them when all around is drying up from lack of water. And whatever they do moves them toward the goal, their reason for living; to be more like the Heavenly Father. Does this describe you?

One of man’s most outstanding gifts is reason, intelligence. No other creature has this capability. Some can be trained, but they lack initiative.

This ability makes us vulnerable because we can make wrong decisions. We need directives. We need help. By our very nature, every decision is couched with moral consequences. From this, there is no escape. I insist, my friend, that we are moral creatures all the time.

Therefore, we need help. Where do you turn when you need help? To the social environment? Do you get your directives from the way people around you answer your questions? Where do you go?

To make proper decisions we need an inflexible standard. We have it, the Holy Bible. You see, the Bible never changes. The Bible is the same. I have essentially the same Bible my grandfather had.

The problem is many people do not know what the Bible says. They don’t read it. If they do know, they often choose to ignore it, or they choose to reinterpret it to find approval for their conduct, which in reality flies into the face of the Bible’s words.

So I wish to talk with you about HOW TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS, from the apostle Paul’s counsel in I Corinthians 10:23-33:

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved.

There can be no doubt that Paul lays down several sound BASES to show us How to Make Ethical Decisions.

The first is:

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

The meaning of expedient is “suitable,” “feasible.” That is why I chose the word convenience. Convenience is the first basis of making Ethical Decisions. The apostle implies that just because something is lawful does not mean it is appropriate, expedient, or convenient. And of course, lawful does not mean morally right. Some actions are legally right but not morally right. For example, the government runs hard liquor stores all across the country, but that does not make drinking alcohol right.

Well, I have another question. Is it ever wrong to do right? One thing is for sure, we don’t need to do everything we can do. For example, when the devil took Jesus to the top turret of the temple, he said to Him, “God has given His angels charge over you so that you will not hurt yourself. Jump off.” But Jesus did not jump. He could have and He would have been protected.

Jesus walked on water. So He did not do what He could have done. That is the way with us. We don’t have to do what we might be able to do.

Instead, turn your concern to helping someone else. At least do not tear down his character. Paul says in verse 24, “Let no man seek his own but another man’s wealth or another man’s good.” And then, remember the Lord is Lord of all! “For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (verse 26). Therefore, the first basis on which we make Ethical Decisions is convenience, but convenience must be curtailed to do good.

Observe what Barnes writes about this:

If a man has his heart on the conversion of men and the salvation of the world, it will go far to regulate his conduct in reference to many things concerning which there may be no exact and positive law. It will do much to regulate his dress; his style of living; his expenses; his entertainments; his mode of intercourse with the world. He may not be able to fix his finger on any positive law, and to say that this or that article of dress is improper; that this or that piece of furniture is absolutely forbidden; or that this or that manner of life is contrary to any explicit law of JEHOVAH; but he may see that it will interfere with his great and main purpose, to do good on the widest scale possible; and therefore to him, it will be inexpedient and improper.

The second basis for Making Ethical Decisions is:

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

We all have a conscience. It is a part of our divine endowment. God made us that way. We were born with a conscience. Furthermore, we can educate our conscience. We can inform it. And it will speak to us then on various subjects. But we need a standard, a guide. Paul’s example was the meat market. He said, “If you go to market and buy something, well then eat it. However, if any man says to you, ‘This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,’ eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake.’” That is the meat market.

In the 1960s we had a definite shift in moral concepts in the United States. The “Me Generation” arose. Oh, how often we heard it! I was teaching on a college campus at that time and often heard, “I’ve got to be me. I have to live my own life. I have my standards.” But what a price was paid for that! Because the standards of conscience were released, everything was looked upon with an open end. We have suffered severely from this situation.

The apostle Paul tells us we are controlled by another person’s conscience. If you are eating and someone should say, “This is offered to idols,” then you should not eat because that person has a conscience on this. While that may not be our situation, we must exercise care to respect the consciences of others.

For a number of years, Mrs. Yoder and I conducted seminars to Bible lands, usually lasting fifteen days. So we were there over Sunday. Each day was a day of Bible study, whether it was Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday didn’t matter. We were at the place where biblical experiences happened. And I took special care to relate the experience to the biblical text. As a result, we were often in Jerusalem over the Jewish Sabbath and on Sunday. On different occasions, we walked through the East Jerusalem Market on Sunday. Now, what should we do? Probably this would be the only time we would be in that area, and of course, people wanted to purchase their souvenirs in those likely places. So I would say in the morning, “Let your conscience be your guide. You will be in this market only today, and if you feel you cannot purchase on Sunday, let your conscience be your guide.” That is the way we operated.

According to Paul’s counsel, we will be judged by the violation of our consciences and God’s Word. Life is not a straight jacket. On the other hand, it is not open-ended either. We are obligated to make Ethical Decisions on the basis of our consciences.

Alexander McClaren, the great English preacher, concluded his sermon on this text with this paragraph:

A Christian man is bound to shape his life so that no man shall be able to say of him that he was the occasion of that one’s fall. He is so bound because every man is his neighbor. He is so bound because he is bound to live to the glory of God, which can never be advanced by laying stumbling blocks in the way for feeble feet. He is so bound because, unless Christ had limited Himself within the bound of manhood, and had sought not His own profit or pleasure, we should have had neither life nor hope. For all these reasons, the duty of thinking of others, and of abstaining, for their sakes, from what one might do, is laid on all Christians.

The third basis for making Ethical Decisions is:

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved.

My friend, we must realize that whether we are Christians or not, our lives are related to God. He is in control. How often has Christianity been rejected because someone who professed to be a Christian went wrong? I can hear you say, “You mean I am to be hemmed in like that?” Well, that all depends on how you look at it. Once you realize what happened when you became a Christian, your chief aim will be to please the Lord! So what I am talking about will be your joy, not your chain.

Be careful to walk inoffensively to Jews, Greeks, and the church of God. That means we must walk “circumspectly,” that is, looking around carefully, as the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:15. Following Jesus is the secret to walking without offense, or circumspectly. Keep focused on the central purpose, which is TO SAVE MANY! Notice that in the last verse of our text: “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” Of course, the apostle Paul is talking about salvation in Christ.

So the basis of commitment will direct the decisions into proper channels, the channels that will profit most.

J. Waite, in The Pulpit Commentary, closes his discussion with some pertinent words:

So may the grand motives of reverence for God and love to the Saviour give shape and beauty, consistency and harmony, to everything we do. And then, he who “seeth not as man seeth,” who recognizes none of our distinctions of great and small, will accept it as a welcome tribute to his praise. The poor widow’s consecration of her “two mites” to the Lord’s treasury, the “cup of cold water” given to the disciple in the name of the disciple, the simplest act of real Christian service and self-sacrificing love,–these are as pleasing to him as the heroism of a Paul compassing sea and land with painful toil and travail that he may win souls, or a Luther daring the dark powers of earth and hell in his brave witness for the truth. Learn to fill your common everyday life with the inspiration of a high and holy purpose.

Remember, we are moral creatures all the time. Therefore, to make wise Ethical Decisions we must consider:

Expediency controlled by morality

Not only ours but others also

That many may be saved.

And to God will be the glory. Amen!

Eating together is the crown of fellowship. For many, the family table holds precious memories. In my parental home, the family always ate together-breakfast, dinner, and supper. We each had our place at the table, and we never ate without a prayer by my father. The table was our meeting place. I realize that different cultures have different customs. But a meal together as a family is generally treasured.

What we Christians call the Lord’s Table has its roots in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, led by Moses. Exodus 12:1-14 records the establishment of the Passover. Imagine you are an Israelite in the land of Egypt listening to Moses. Here is what he spoke to them:

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus ye shall eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

The Passover was the Israelites’ final ceremony in the land of their captivity. It celebrated their release from slavery. By it, they bound themselves to the Lord. The blood on their doors both liberated them from Egypt and obligated them to the Lord. After that, it was to be an annual memorial feast throughout their generations. Jews all over the world have kept the Passover, modified because of the circumstances under which they had to live.

When Jesus came, He advanced the revelation of God. Born of the virgin, He had a perfect human nature, lived a perfect human life, and made a perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. The potential is there for all and any who hear and believe.

As He came near the appointed time of His death, Jesus had one last Passover with His disciples. Now I want you to get the connection between what Moses said and what Jesus did as recorded in Luke 22:7-20:

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

One can feel the connection to the Passover. As the blood of the Passover lamb liberated and obligated Israel, so the blood of Jesus liberates us from the judgment of our sins and obligates us to serve Him. The trade-off is all to our advantage! Amen!

Paul’s teaching about the Lord’s Table in I Corinthians 10:16-22 helps us to understand its meaning:

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 What say I then? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?

20 But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

I invite you to join me as I reflect on several meditative THOUGHTS derived from Paul’s teaching about MEETING AT THE LORD’S TABLE.

The first meditation is:

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

The family thought is here. “The cup which we bless” reflects the closely-knit family at the Passover. The Jews were there as families, as we saw in Exodus 12. We saw them on the evening of their Exodus.

The cup of the blood of Christ unites us in communion as members of the family of God. The word communion in our text means “a close fellowship.” So we can say this is a participation in the blood of Christ.

My wife, Isabelle, and I have joyfully experienced meeting at the Lord’s Table in different countries, with brothers and sisters in the family of God. It is the fellowship of the body of Christ.

As the grains are united in the bread, so we are united in Jesus. Each grain is joined to the other grain in the bread. So as with the bread, we become one body.

Our first meditation, then, is the Thought of Inclusion. We are included at the family table, so to speak.

Observe the words of Barnes in his commentary:

There is evident allusion here to the fact that the loaf or cake was composed of many separate grains of wheat, or portions of flour united in one; or, that as one loaf was broken and partaken by all, it was implied that they were all one. We are all one society; united as one, and for the same object. Our partaking of the same bread is an emblem of the fact that we are one. In almost all nations the act of eating together has been regarded as a symbol of unity or friendship.

The second meditation from Paul’s teaching is:

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 What say I then? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?

20 But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Here the apostle Paul gets rather firm on the matter of the altar of sacrifice. This altar was for those who served at the altar. In the history of Israel, this was very important. Certain family members had been set aside by the decree of God to be the ones to officiate at the altar. They were the sons of Levi, called Levites, the priestly tribe. One of the kings of Israel presumed to usurp the priesthood, and he suffered leprosy for the rest of his life. His name is Uzziah (see II Chronicles 26:9). No one was to officiate at the altar except the descendants of Levi.

Opposites cannot be tolerated. Idol sacrifices have no place. They are an intrusion into the body of Christ. It is very interesting that the word “communion” is the word “fellowship,” and the word “fellowship” in verse 20 is identical to the word “communion” in verse 16. You see, the intrusion of idol worship into the fellowship of the Lord’s Table is unthinkable.

Our second meditation is the Thought of Intrusion corrupting the fellowship of the body of Christ. Again, Barnes has a significant word:

They are united in their worship and are so regarded. And in like manner, if you partake of the sacrifices offered to idols, and join with their worshippers in their temples, you will be justly regarded as united with them in their worship, and partaking with them in their abominations.

Our third meditation is:

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

The apostle Paul draws a sharp line in verse 21: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of the devils [demons]: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and the table of devils [demons].” This is impossible. Jesus said, “You cannot serve two masters. You either love the one and hate the other, serve the one or despise the other” (see Matthew 7:24). You must decide where your loyalty is. The apostle says it is impossible to “to drink of the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons.” The cup of the Lord and the Lord’s Table excludes the cup of demons and the table of demons. I am going to tell you something very emphatically: The Lord is intolerant of evil. Anyone who follows Him must also be intolerant of evil.

I remember so well the Friday morning of the Jerusalem Conference on Biblical Prophecy, as the sun was shining in the East, how we gathered on the Mount of Olives for the communion service. As we began, Dr. Richard Halverson, who was in charge of the Lord’s Table, said, “This table is for sinners.” Underneath that was the implication of “sinners who have found their peace through the blood of the Lamb.” This reflects our third meditation, the Thought of Exclusion to maintain the proper relationship with Jesus.

Once again I defer to Barnes:

We may observe, that any course of life that tends to alienate the affections from God, and to fix them on other beings or objects, is a sin of the same kind as that referred to here. Any inordinate love of friends, of property, of honor, has substantially the same idolatrous nature and will tend to provoke him to anger. And it may be asked of Christians now, whether they will by such inordinate attachments provoke the Lord to wrath? whether they will thus excite his displeasure, and expose themselves to his indignation? Very often Christians do thus provoke him. They become unduly attached to a friend, or to wealth, and God in anger takes away that friend by death, or that property by the flames: or they conform to the world, and mingle in its scenes of fashion and gayety, and forget God: and in displeasure, he visits them with judgments, humbles them, and recalls them to himself.

Therefore our Meeting at the Lord’s Table will be enriched as we meditate on:

THE BODY OF CHRIST—we are one body.

THE SACRIFICES—that are made to demons.

THE COMMUNION-no fellowship between the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons.

The Lord’s Table and the table of demons are totally opposed and mutually exclusive. We who are redeemed believers meet at the Lord’s Table as the body of Christ.

Life is a struggle to survive. I am talking your language, I know. We all know life is an uphill struggle. We are always rowing against the current, as it were. We cannot relax. If we relax, we go down. So life is a continual struggle.

We have our physical problems. We are plagued by all kinds of ailments, migraine headaches, lower back pain, cancer, and the like. We have our financial problems. Some lose their jobs. Some lose their security. Our finances run out before the end of the month. Do you know what I am talking about? We have our social problems and problems with the neighbors. They do not cooperate. We have psychological problems. We are told we need to be in therapy. How do you cope with your problems? Oh yes, life is a struggle to survive.

Some of the radio talk shows claim to have the answer to every question or problem. If they can offer nothing else, they say, “Well, it appears that you probably should have some professional help.”

I am going to be talking to you about CLAIMING THE VICTORY. I do not want to make any undue claims, but I believe my message from God’s Word will help you in the solution of whatever problem you may have. Let’s look at what God has to say about living in victory in I Corinthians 10:1-13:

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Paul has three definite LESSONS to show us how to have victory in the Christian life.

The first instruction the apostle Paul gives is:

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

The apostle Paul reviews a crisis in Israel’s history. He speaks about the Red Sea. That was the experience of the Israelites when they left Egypt. You may remember they came to the Red Sea. Pharaoh was behind them with his army, and the waters of the Red Sea were in front of them. They could not go back. And it looked as though they could not go forward. It was a struggle to survive. But God led them through the Red Sea by the hand of Moses. God’s protection of the cloud guided them through the sea on dry land, the Scripture tells us. God’s deliverance was by parting the waters. There was a wall of water on the right and one on the left. The Israelites passed through the Red Sea. The whole experience was a miracle. God miraculously intervened on behalf of His people.

So I ask you, What makes up your background? Can you remember any great event with God? Evaluate your background. Think about your history.

Then Paul goes on to speak about the preservation of the people of Israel as they traveled through the Sinai Peninsula. No water, no food! God provided food for them by giving the manna every morning, enough for the day. On the sixth day, they found enough for two days. He provided for them. When they had no water, Moses was instructed to strike the rock, and a great stream of water gushed from the rock. Water from the rock! And the Scripture tells us that the Rock that followed them was Christ. Yet God was displeased with them because they would not mix their action with faith. They were overthrown in the wilderness.

So, my friend, I am asking you to take the time to assess what you have. Think of where you have come from. It may not all be glorious. It was not all glorious for those Jews. And yet an assessment is very important if you are going to claim the victory. Here is a poem that tells it well:

On us, great God, on us are come

The ends of rolling time;

We would begin each opening day

With gratitude sublime.

Men after men have come and gone,

Myriads have passed away;

But Thou hast lived unchanged, O God

And brought us to this day.

The past, an ocean under thee,

Bore onward thy great plan,

And every billow, as it broke,

Was fraught with good to man.

The dispensations under which

Our fathers lived and died

Were only, as compared with ours,

Dim daybreak to noontide.

“A goodly heritage” have we,

Ages of choicest lore;

What “kings and prophets longed” to see

Are ours forevermore.

The great men of the past are ours,

To help us on life’s way;

The Sun of Righteousness we have,

To flood our hearts with day.

All that past times have given us

May we employ aright,

And live a grand and godly life,

Full worthy of our light.

We follow in the awful march

Of all the mighty dead.

Eternal Father, succor us

When all your years have fled!

I think of my father. He died young as we think of it now. He died at 61 when I was thirteen years of age. But my father left a heritage with me that I have always appreciated. He was a God-fearing man. As I assess my situation, I find it heavy on the GOOD SIDE. And I praise God.

I hope that is what you find as you make an assessment of where you have come from.

The second instruction the apostle has for us is:

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil thing as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Here are five specific areas of association. They are not luxurious. They are not attractive. They are serious misdemeanors. (1) Lust, do not lust after evil things like they did. Oh, but I must tell you, we are born with it. From the day that Eve and Adam sinned in the garden, we are born with a lust for evil. It must be curtailed. It must be controlled. (2) And he said, “Do not become idolaters.” Don’t worship false gods, or set up your own god, whatever it might be. I believe in our society false gods are money, fashion, social standing, and self-esteem. Do not be an idolater. Do not associate with idolaters. (3) And do not commit fornication. The reference is made to that terrible situation that happened when the Israelites were coming from Egypt to Canaan and became involved in the interaction with the pagan Moabites. God told His people not to mingle with them. They did exactly what the Scripture intimates; they committed fornication.

(4) Do not put Christ to the test. It seems that some people take a certain delight and say, “Well, if God is God, let Him do so, so, so.” Don’t do that. (5) Do not complain. The Israelites complained. “Here we are. We would have been better off if we would have stayed in Egypt. We are not being treated fairly.” Oh, do not do that. Learn the lesson that good association calls for disassociation from evil.

Reject these five areas of association. This reminds me of the proverbial statement about the one rotten apple in the barrel of apples. The good apples do not make the rotten apple good. The rotten apple makes the good apples bad. In I Corinthians 15:33, Paul says, “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” Make sure you understand that and avoid the associations that drag you down.

The third instruction of the apostle is:

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Take to heart what you know, my friend. History, particularly the history of God’s people, has been written for our learning. Acquaint yourself with it. Read it carefully. Reflect upon it. I refer to the Old Testament. It is often said that what you do not know won’t hurt you. But my friend, what you don’t know does hurt you. You should become acquainted and understand what the past can tell you. The Jews have a very good motto, When you forget your past, you cannot plan your future. So what you don’t know will hurt you.

Keep your self-esteem in check. The Scripture says here, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Fall by overconfidence. I know what the self-esteem people tell us: say to yourself, “I am number one.” I want to tell you, don’t do that. Say to yourself, “He is number one.” Thinking of Jesus, “He is number one.” Take heed because you can fall! You can trip over your own ideas. Many a person has fallen by overconfidence. You can’t stand constantly in the presence of evil without it getting next to you.

And remember, God has the way. Oh, look carefully at I Corinthians 10:13:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

My friend, there are not many options. In fact, there are only two. It is either your way or His way. And He has made a way. He has promised to make a way. Have total and absolute assurance that He will make the way. And notice those two words in the first line: “no temptation.”

No temptation has taken you but such as is human. The temptations that come to us are human temptations. We do not have angelic temptations if indeed, they have temptations. Never say, “No one understands me.” The temptation you have is a human temptation. Truly, failure is not God’s fault. Be assured God knows. It matters not how severe the pressure comes, God understands. He knows. Amen!

Let me summarize this with a quotation from Barnes’s commentary.

God knows what his people are able to endure, and as he has entire control of all that can affect them, he will adapt all trials to their strength and will enable them to bear all that is appointed to them. This is a general promise and is as applicable to other Christians as it was to the Corinthians. It was to them a positive promise, and to all, in the same circumstances, it may be regarded as such now. It may be used, therefore, (1) As a ground of encouragement to those who are in temptation and trial. God knows what they are able to endure, and he will sustain them in their temptations. It matters not how severe the trial; or how long it may be continued; or how much they may feel their own feebleness, yet He who has appointed the trial is abundantly able to uphold them. They may, therefore, repose their all upon him, and trust to his sustaining grace.

Therefore, in Claiming the Victory, let us learn

What good things we have in our past.

Let us learn

Choose carefully the good.

And finally let us learn

God’s way of escape is the right way.

Surely only the foolish or lazy would not plan or hope to win. It seems incredible that anyone would simply plan to lose. Whether in business, sports, or everyday life, the idea is to win, to come out on top. Most people do it for financial or personal reasons.

In the field of religion, especially Christianity, the central drive is to win others. Christianity is an evangelistic faith. Several times Jesus sent out evangelistic teams. Once He sent out the twelve; on another occasion, He sent out seventy. They went by two’s to preach the Gospel, to witness, and to testify. His closing commission to the disciples was in Galilee. It was a “GO.” “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). So we can confidently affirm Christianity is more than a private experience.

From letters we have received from overseas listeners, we know full well there are some who are secret believers. But that is not the normal situation. Many who write to us from our international audience after conversion say, “Now I must tell others.” “Send a Bible to help me.” Or “Send me some literature.” Or “Send me some tracts.” “Help me, teach me, guide me, because I want to be a witness for Jesus.” One who wrote said, “Now I must avenge Satan for keeping me in the dark for 20 years.”

So our purpose is to make clear to you what the Good News is! And I want to affirm before you that the Good News is the same that it has always been.

The great golden text of the Bible is still just as true as it was when Jesus spoke it: “God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That is John 3:16! And friend, we can tell that around the world, and it meets the need of every human heart that seeks for peace. Amen!

To find out further what our driving force means, I turn to I Corinthians 9:19-27:

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

In this text, the apostle Paul finds several WAYS to prepare the believer to win converts to Christ. The first way is:

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under thelaw to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Here are four different groups the apostle Paul refers to. He says, “I became a Jew.” “I became as one under the law.” “I became as one without the law.” “I became as one who is weak.” To communicate with them, to somehow bring the message of the Gospel to them, Paul saw the need to identify with them. We can be absolutely sure that the apostle Paul never compromised his faith or his message. But he went among these four different groups to bring them to a knowledge of the truth. That was what he concentrated on. He concentrated on the truth.

The Gospel is still the same. John 3:16 is still as true as it was on the day Jesus spoke it. And human need is the same. We have so many people talking these days about change, change, change. Everything is in flux. But I want to assure you, my friend, that some things are still the same. There is only one way of salvation. There is only one Son of God. There is only one sacrifice for sin. It has always been that way in the mind of God. There is no change. He does not change.

What about the adaptations? I remember well a conversation I had with a friend of mine. He saw what we are doing in terms of our international broadcast to three-quarters of the world. We have letters from 176 countries.

He asked me, “What adaptation do you make?” I made it very simple. I said, “None.” We do not change the message. We do not have the right to change the message. The message has been given. But some people are very much concerned about what they call contextualizing the gospel. The contextualization is the fact that the human race all over the world is in need of the Gospel. And it is the same GospelNo modification, No adaptation, No change. It is the same. That is how we reach out to all people. We don’t make any difference whether Jews, Gentiles, Muslims, Chinese, Japanese, whoever, wherever. The message is the same. So we are trying to Maximize Our Efforts and get the message out to all people everywhere.

The second way the apostle Paul describes is:

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Paul uses a very interesting illustration. He is talking about, you might say, the Olympics of his day; that is, the stadium, the races, and the contests. Well, we are in a marathon race. Hundreds are in the race. Some are simply running for the sake of running. The apostle says, “Aim for the prize.” He said, “In a race, they all run, but only one receives the prize.” But he then suggests very clearly that every one of us has possibilities of getting the prize. “So run that you may obtain.” It makes no difference whether you are running behind or ahead of me. When we are in the race for Jesus, we aim for the prize. We stretch every nerve to win.

Some years ago my wife and I had the privilege of living in Greece for a while, and I went to the University of Thessalonica. I was staying in the hospice there with the male students, and one of my friends invited me to come along to field day. He provided me with a ticket. I went and sat in the bleachers. There were not many people there for this field day, but I was observing what was happening. I do not know which race it was, but a number of runners lined up for the race. One fellow who was rather heavyset soon lagged behind. He lagged behind farther and farther and farther. Finally, he gave up and walked off the course. They actually applauded him because he realized he would never win anyway.

That is not the case Paul speaks of. He says, “Run so you may obtain.” To do that, there has to be some training. There has to be some effort to be temperate in all things. Be careful not to overdo anything. Aim to excel!

While this is very appropriate and proper in the sports field, it certainly is proper in the religious field. Aim to excel! Hone your skills as a Christian! Keep your face in the Book! The psalmist said, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doeth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:1, 2). So while you are centralizing your energy, hone your skills as a Christian.

Every four years when there is an Olympics, scores of people who plan to enter the Olympics subject themselves to vigorous training. They train every day. They push their bodies as far as they will go in the field of their choice, to try to get their muscles strong and their balance and everything else just right. Now that could apply to the Christian walk. Centralize Your Energy!

I have received great blessing from Barnes on this point:

Can a man be truly earnest in his professed religion; can he be a sincere Christian, who is not willing to abandon anything and everything that will tend to impair the vigor of his mind, weaken his body, and make him a stumbling block to others? The value of temperance is here presented in a very striking and impressive view. When even the heathens wished to accomplish anything that demanded skill, strength, power, vigor of body, they saw the necessity of being temperate, and they were so. And this proves what all experiments have proved, that if men wish to accomplish much, they must be temperate. It proves that men can do more without intoxicating drink than they can with it. The example of these Grecian Athletae their wrestlers, boxers, and racers, is against all the farmers, mechanics, and the seamen, day-laborers, gentlemen, clergymen, and lawyers, who plead that stimulating drink is necessary to enable them to bear cold and heat, and toil and exposure.

So, my friend, let nothing interfere with your central purpose. I appeal to you. I am speaking to you as a Christian. Centralize Your Energy!

The third way the apostle Paul describes is:

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Focus on the necessary. The apostle says, “I do not run uncertainly.” So run with purpose. I would like to say that in the Christian walk the course is laid out. You see we are not trying to find the way. We are walking in the way. It is the narrow way Jesus told about. He said, “The way is narrow and straight” (see Matthew 7:14). That is where we are. We do not have to find our way. It is already laid out. Remember that Southern spiritual song: “On the Jericho Road, there is room for just two, Jesus and me”? That is right. You cannot take a lot of people with you, but you can walk with Jesus. So focus on the necessary and run with purpose.

Furthermore, fight with determination. I was just trying to imagine what Paul was referring to when he said, “I do not fight as one that beateth the air.” I am not a fan of the boxing ring. I don’t have any particular desire to see men knock each other out. But they had boxing in Paul’s day. And not with padded gloves! But how stupid it would be for a man simply to aim at nothing, to fight as beating the air. He would expect his swing to end on his opponent, not in thin air. Be careful to direct your efficiency correctly, so that you hit the target.

Keep your body in control. He said, “I keep my body under.” He does not pamper his body. He does not listen to the appeals of his sinful flesh. So use personal discipline. Take charge. Do not be pushed around by what you might desire in your less spiritual moments. It has often been said, “What you do shouts so loud I cannot hear what you say.” So keep your body in control.

And then, oh what a challenge that last phrase is! “When I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Practice what you preach. You know, the present is always our challenge. The past is gone forever. The future is yet to come. So all we can deal with is the present. Therefore we ought to concentrate and give ourselves to the present. With diligence, we can make every move and every minute count for Jesus. That is what this is all about.

How shall we win a few? Paul says, “That I might by all means save some.” That is the whole purpose and focus of HERALDS OF HOPE, INC. That is what “The Voice of Hope” is for. I am hoping now that I am challenging you to give your life to Jesus.

If you are a Christian, then I call you to

to reach the lost

to concentrate on the truth

to make every move and moment count for Jesus.

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

The apostle Paul uses some very common experiences to illustrate his points. For example, a soldier who goes to war does not go at his own expense. He is a mercenary, hired to be a soldier. He gets paid for it. Or the farmer who plants his vineyard reaps the harvest of the vineyard. He expects to benefit from the grape gathering. The shepherd who cares for his sheep expects to profit from the milk, meat, and wool of the flock. It is expected that the flock will return benefit to the shepherd.

Paul then reached into the Old Testament and quoted from Deuteronomy 25:4: “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the grain.” He used this illustration to show that God is concerned about the animal who treads out the grain.

Certainly, God would be concerned about the minister who ministers the Word of God. So Paul went on and pointed out that those who minister spiritual truth and spiritual benefit should have some remuneration, some compensation in the carnal things, the fleshly things.

Sow the spiritual and harvest the fleshly. The minister of God has bodily needs and physical needs just like anyone else does. He also lives a mortal life. So his daily need of food, clothing, and shelter are just as current as those for anyone else. The apostle recognized that there is a spiritual body and a physical body. So when the Man of God ministers to the spiritual body, those who benefit from that ministry should respond and meet the needs of his physical body. We are to nurture both.

Again Paul reached into the Old Testament for further instruction. By the Mosaic Law, those who ministered at the altar were to receive from the altar. They were to experience the blessing of receiving. The priest received a part of the animal and grain sacrifices as they were brought to be sacrificed. This is clearly outlined in Leviticus. The priests and Levites had no inheritance like the rest of the people of Israel. But they were given certain territories and villages around the towns. And they were then blessed and helped by the offerings the children of Israel brought to the tabernacle or temple. They were sustained by the gifts of the people. This is the illustration the apostle Paul brings in terms of the Man of God in the present situation.

When the Lord sent out the 70, he made a significant statement that we should understand. The apostle referred to it. Luke 10:5-9 records Jesus’words:

And into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give:for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Did you notice Jesus said that the people of the city are to feed the ministers, the evangelists? In my evangelistic, revival services years ago, I usually stayed in the home of a family of the congregation, most often the pastor’s family. They provided for my needs while I was among them.

Barnes has words for us in his commentary in I Corinthians:

It might be added, that society is benefited in a financial way by the service of a faithful minister to a far greater extent than the amount of compensation that he receives. One drunkard, reformed under his labors, may earn and save to his family and to society as much as the whole salary of the pastor. The promotion of order, peace, sobriety, industry, education, regularity in business, and honesty in contracting and in paying debts, saves much more to the community at large than the cost of the support of the gospel. In regard to this, any man may make the comparison at his leisure, between those places where the ministry is established, and where temperance, industry, and sober habits prevail, and those places where there is no ministry, and where gambling, idleness, and dissipation abound. It is always a matter of economy to a people, in the end, to support ministers as they ought to be supported.

If you wish to build a financial empire, the ministry is the wrong choice. If you long for lasting value reaching into eternity, then give yourself to God’s service. The minister’s personal compensation, though important, is not the main consideration.

Finally, let us consider:

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

For the apostle Paul, it was either do or die. There was a strong inner drive. There was no option left. Paul said the ministry was his calling. As you review what Jesus said to him when He met him on the Damascus road, you will understand why the apostle Paul said, “Do or die. If I do not do, then I might as well die.”

Results are not the measuring stick anyway. The measuring stick is faithfulness. Do what you are called to do. That is what the apostle Paul said. That was his inner compulsion. “I will do or I will die.”

Preaching the gospel was a necessity. Notice verse 16: “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me: yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” Paul felt very clearly that if he did not fulfill his calling if he did not preach the gospel, then he was under very severe judgment.

A willing service is a reward. To be a Man of God means to serve regardless of the results. The results are not measured in bank accounts or financial holdings looked at from his standpoint. The rewards are eternal. The rewards are people who have come to the Lord, people who have reordered their lives, and have become new people in Christ Jesus. That is the reward.

The Man of God has a life-long calling. He must fulfill it. I must refer again to Barnes’s commentary:

Men who leave the ministry, and voluntarily devote themselves to some other calling when they might preach, never had the proper spirit of an ambassador of Jesus. If for the sake of ease or gain; if to avoid the cares and anxieties of the life of a pastor; if to make money, or secure money when made; if to cultivate a farm, to teach a school, to write a book, to live upon an estate, or to enjoy life, they lay aside the ministry, it is proof that they never had a call to the work. So did not Paul, and Paul’s Master and ours. They loved the work, and they left it not till death. Neither for ease, honor, nor wealth; neither to avoid care, toil, pain, or poverty, did they cease in their work, until the one could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7; and the other, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do;” John 17:4.) We see the reason why men are sometimes miserable in other callings. They should have entered the ministry. God called them to it, and they became hopefully pious. But they chose the law, or the practice of medicine, or chose to be farmers, merchants, teachers, professors, or statesmen. And God withers their piety, blights their happiness, follows them with the reproaches of conscience, makes them sad, melancholy, wretched. They do no good, and they have no comfort in life.

Oh for a Man of God who is bound in heart and soul to preach the Book of God! We need them. We need them all across the country. All around the world.

We need Men of God who have had that

an intimate walk with Jesus

We need Men of God who understand that the

is eternal souls

We need Men of God who understand the importance of

the divine urge to fulfill the Lord’s call

My friend, if you are a pastor/preacher, I trust the Lord has spoken to your heart. If you are a member of the church, then pray for your pastor. Encourage him, lift him up, and help him to make full proof of his ministry.

I suppose there are thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of vocational possibilities. The job market is flooded with all kinds of opportunities. Some are noble jobs, jobs for the benefit of society. Some are detrimental to society. Not all positions with the highest salaries are noble and uplifting for mankind.

In past generations, the ministry was highly honored. Theology was called the queen of sciences. Men who sought the ministry were commended and respected.

With the serious downfall of prominent clergymen in recent decades, the ministry has come into disrepute. The office, however, is of the highest order. Just because some men have denigrated the ministry does not mean it is a bad office. The ministry deals with the soberest conditions and considerations in life.

Everyone ought to contemplate a personal relation to the Almighty God, by whose benevolence we all live. But the minister has been called to stand for God as His spokesman and as a mediator for his fellowmen. That puts him in an awesome position.

There should be some way to regain the high sense of THE VOCATION OF THE MAN OF GOD. The apostle Paul offers an explanation in I Corinthians 9:1-18:

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

From Paul’s writings, I wish to set forth several serious CONSIDERATIONS as we contemplate The Vocation of the Man of God.

First, let us consider:

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

There is an intimacy with Jesus that the Man of God must have. When Paul said he saw Jesus, he most likely was referring to his Damascus road experience recorded in Acts 9. Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians when Jesus appeared to him in a light brighter than the noonday sun. The light was so intense that Paul was blind for three days. But he said, “I saw the Lord.” That intimacy is essential in the personal call of the Man of God.

The Man of God must sense his call from God as very personal. I recall in my own experience as a farm lad of 14 when the Lord spoke to me in the hayloft. Nine years later the Lord, through my congregation, called me to the ministry.

It has been almost 60 years since the Lord called me to the ministry. Praise God! They have been rich years, years of intimacy with the Lord, years of important reality, as He has used me to minister to hundreds, even thousands, of people.

Then there is an evidence of service. Paul said, “You are the evidence of my ministry.” Paul ministered in the town of Corinth. He went there after he had left Athens, where he had spoken to the elite. He came to Corinth, spent some time there, and established the church. He said, “You are the evidence of my ministry.” Besides that, the apostle Paul ministered all across the Roman world of his day, not only in Corinth, but in many other areas, towns, and cities. The evidence is not in how many sermons were preached but how many sinners were saved! This is what the apostle Paul appealed to. “You are my evidence, you are my proof, that I have a call from the Lord.”

In Paul’s day, there were no “Preacher Mills,” or Bible schools, that turned out men who were supposed to be equipped and ready for the ministry. In Paul’s day, a man’s call to the ministry rested on a very personal relationship, an intimacy with Jesus. It was a calling to do or die!

The Vocation of the Man of God to be real must begin with His Personal Calling.

According to Genesis 1:30, when the human race was created, God gave them “every green herb” for food. In fact, all creatures ate only herbs or vegetables. Meat was not in the diet at that time.

In Genesis 9:3 the Scripture states, “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb I have given you all things.” That was after the Flood, after Noah’s day. At that time the human race was permitted to eat meat. Later, under the law given to Moses, certain animals were on the no, no list (see Leviticus 11). Only those with a split hoof and that chewed the cud were permitted as food. Of the water creatures, only those with scales would be eaten. So eels and catfish were not permitted. And above all, blood was strictly forbidden. The mixing of milk and meat came from the statement in the Bible that the people were not to seethe a kid in its mother’s milk (Exodus 23:19).

Today some people still rigidly adhere to these strict directives. Some are strict vegetarians. Now, some dietitians argue that we must have a certain amount of meat in our diet. But that has not been proven absolutely. We can get proteins from plant foods. Nature is complete.

In Paul’s day, the idol worshipers made animal sacrifices, as indeed the Jews did. And often when they made such sacrifices, they ate the meat that had been sacrificed as sort of a fellowship meal with the idol or with God, as it happened to be. Sometimes following the sacrifice to idols, pagans had a communal meal to “fellowship” with the idols and their friends. In Corinth, some of the Christians were invited to their pagan neighbors’ meals.

In I Corinthians 8 Paul addresses how the practice of meat sacrificed to idols affects Christians. There is an underlying truth here, however, more than the meat issue. Into the mix of the diet, Paul brings the experience of knowledge.

This is the last message in the division of the book that I have called “Christ Is Made Unto Us Righteousness.” Let’s consider I Corinthians 8:1-13 for the message I have called WATCH HOW YOU LIVE:

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other god but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

In Paul’s discussion, I find several foundational EQUATIONS related to how we should live.

The first equation is:

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

The apostle says that everyone has knowledge. Some have minimal knowledge; some have more knowledge. The mind is capable of both. That is why our children go to school. We can train the mind. That is why we buy books to read. That is why you are reading my book right now. You believe that what I will be able to bring to you will help you. It will build you up.

Some take pride in the knowledge they have. They think of themselves as wiser than they are. But the apostle says, “If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know” (verse 2).

When we compare what we know with what is out there to know, we know very little. Everybody knows only very little. No one can justify or take pride in how much he or she knows. Of course, knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Ignorance is not bliss. Knowledge is helpful. But Paul says, “Knowledge puffs up.”

Love is superior to knowledge. God has both fully. When one exercises love, he has knowledge of God and God has knowledge of him. Love identifies us with God!

Barnes tells us something about love:

The doctrine is, that love for God and for each other is a better guide in determining what to do than mere knowledge. And it is so. It will prompt us to seek the welfare of others and to avoid what would injure them. It will make us tender, affectionate, and kind; and will better tell us what to do, and how to do it in the best way, than all the abstract knowledge that is conceivable.

In this equation love outweighs knowledge.

The second equation is:

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

We take up questions of right and wrong. Let me tell you, it is never right to do wrong, no matter what the end may be. The end does not justify the means. Furthermore, every person has a conscience. It is the voice of God in the soul. Even the most wicked and most ignorant person has a conscience, a monitoring conscience that tells him what is right and wrong.

I would also say, no one lives up to the knowledge he or she has. That is our continual problem. We know better than we do. And the conscience judges every act.

For years teachers of ethics have argued for a neutral zone, called the gray zone. They tell us there is nothing right or wrong in that gray zone. Do whatever you want to do. I affirm that is not true. When you are dealing with two people, you may lay out a gray zone. But when you are dealing with yourself, there is no gray zone.

Every person has moral principles that govern conduct. And every person is accountable for his conduct and to his conscience.

Here we look at the sacrifice offered to idols. When someone ate the meat at dinner after the sacrifice, it showed he considered the idol to be a god. Some of the Corinthian Church members ignored it. They said that the idol was nothing. It was neither here nor there.

Knowledge, they claimed, gave them the right to eat. But they did not consider all the ramifications. Many Christians today do not consider all the ramifications of their conduct. They may very easily be a stumbling block to others.

Conscience is superior to knowledge. Let me again bring you a few words from Barnes:

We are not so stupid as to suppose that the block of wood, or the carved image, or the chiseled marble is a real intelligence, and is conscious and capable of receiving worship or benefiting its votaries. We fully admit, and know that the whole thing is delusive; and there can be no danger that, by partaking of the food offered in sacrifice to them, we should ever be brought to a belief of the stupendous falsehood that they are true objects of worship, or to deny the true God. There is no doubt that the more intelligent heathen had this knowledge; and doubtless, nearly all Christians possessed it, though a few who had been educated in the grosser views of heathenism might still have regarded the idol with a superstitious reverence.

Watch how you live. Conscience is superior to knowledge.

The third equation is:

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

The apostle warns us not to use liberty to hurt somebody. “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” Liberty can be a stumbling block. I examined the word liberty and found it is often translated in the New Testament as “authority,” only once “liberty.” Many times it is translated “power.” Get the real picture. “Take heed lest by any means your authority becomes a stumbling block.”

Every person must seek to control his or her conduct and avoid being a hindrance or a stumbling block. We all are on the stage all the time, regardless of who we are. Somebody is always watching and drawing conclusions. That is awesome and rather frightening.

Consider your neighbor, the apostle says, take care of what you do, support the right and good, and take care that what you do does not run roughshod over somebody’s conscience.

No one has the right to trample over another person’s conscience. We might say to them, “Do not be so silly.” But we have to consider how they think and feel.5

We never have liberty to cause another person to violate his or her conscience. We have some reason also to educate our own conscience and help other people to educate theirs.

Now the apostle Paul made a wonderful statement at the end of the chapter. He said, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” 

In reality, Christ is our noble example. Notice what Barnes has to say on this point:

Christ, though he was rich, yet so lived that all may safely imitate him; though he was honored of God, and exalted to the highest office as the Redeemer of the world, yet he lived so that all in every rank may follow him; though he had all power, and was worshipped by angels, yet so lived that he might teach the most humble and lowly how to live, and so lived that it is safe and proper for all to live as he did. So should every monarch, and prince, and rich man; every noble, and every learned man; every man of honor and office; every master of a family, and every man of age and wisdom, live that all others may learn of them how to live and that they may safely walk in their footsteps.

You know, friend, life is more than food, clothing, and shelter. Paul instructs us to Watch How We Live. We need more than knowledge. Consider our main points again.

Knowledge needs to be balanced by Love.

Knowledge needs to be balanced by Conscience.

Knowledge needs to be balanced by Liberty.