Bible Study

How can I live for God? (part 1)
December 17, 2009

How can I live for God? An Introduction to Personal Holiness

In our past Bible studies, we have explored the answers to critical life questions. Here is a summary of our in depth analysis:

1. How can I find truth? It can be found in God's Word, the Bible.

2. Who is God? Jesus

3. How can I find God? Believe (have faith) that Jesus is capable and willing to save you from your sins; pursue that faith by obeying His command to repent of your sins; further pursue that faith by obeying His command to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. The climax of your faith comes when you ask God to fill you with the Holy Ghost and God does it. At the moment God gives you His Spirit He also gives you a sign, a demonstration of that infilling, that being allowing you to speak in an unknown tongue.

We then briefly covered “your new life” describing the freedom and deliverance God gave you and provided some tools to strengthen your walk: pray daily; read the Bible daily; be faithful to attend church; call on the new church family any time you need help with walking in your new life.

We now turn the corner to answer another very important question: How can I live for God? This is a study of personal holiness (pursuing what pleases God). Let us jump into a lengthy response to that question and why it is important to know the answer.

The Book of Life: There is a record book in heaven of names of people who should be very happy that their name is found there.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The scripture does not state exactly when God records those names there but it appears to be connected with them getting saved and becoming apart of God's church:

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

With our names in the book of life, we have our ticket to one day dwell in heaven:

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it [New Jerusalem—heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Getting our name in the Book of Life should be everyone's goal in life.

How can I live for God? (part 2)
December 18, 2009

Blotting our name from the Book of Life

A second goal that leads us to our discussion today is living for God in a way that pleases Him. In other words, how can we remain under God's umbrella of grace so that our name remains in the Book of Life? Listen to these warnings:

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

and

Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

That first verse lets us know that we must overcome some things to keep our name in the Book of Life. The sense of the second one tells us that if we cut off parts of the Bible by ignoring them, we cut out our name from the Book of Life. That is very serious because Rev 20:12 says:

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Living an overcoming life and obeying the Word of God boil down to our lifestyle choices. Therefore, our second goal after getting our name in the Book of Life, would be keeping it there.

Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

This is certainly an important reason to ask this question: How can I live for God? We want to find out what Jesus means by doing the will of our Father.

How can I live for God? (part 3)
December 21, 2009

Our response of love

We should not just focus on staying out of hell, however; our goal of living holy is more about maintaining a loving and open relationship with God. If we love the Lord we will seek to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. The Apostle John spoke much about love and how our love for God should demonstrate obedience to God. John recorded these words of Jesus:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments .

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments , and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments , ye shall abide in my love ; even as I have kept my Father's commandments , and abide in his love.

Then years after Jesus left the world, John was still talking about love and obedience:

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments : and his commandments are not grievous.

2 John 6 And this is love , that we walk after his commandments . This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

So rather than looking at our choices about holiness simply as a way to stay out of hell, we should look at them as ways to reflect and demonstrate our love for God. When we truly love the Lord, we don't try to see how deep into worldliness without sinning. That is a backward perspective.

I remember hearing a story of a king who was speaking to the final four candidates who were seeking the position of the king's personal chariot driver. He asked each of them this question: “How close to the edge of the cliff can you drive yet still keep me safe?”

The first responded, “Oh, king, I can drive one foot from the ledge and still keep you safe.” The next candidate wanted to sound even more daring so he said, “I can get you six inches from the ledge and remain safe.” The third, not to be outdone spoke up and boasted, “Oh I will drive one inch from the ledge and will never fallen!” The fourth candidate responded, “Oh, king. When I drive past the cliff, I stay as far from the ledge as possible.” The king responded to the fourth, “You're hired!”

So rather than asking how close to sin can I live and still get by, I'm asking how close to God and His love can I get? How can I rid myself of all the filth all around me and pursue righteousness?

How can I live for God? (part 4)
December 22, 2009

General facts about holiness: Seeking to become more like God

Holiness is a way of life that has as its motto; “I love God and I want to be more like Him.” It is obeying God for the right reasons. It is not merely appearing righteous but being righteous:

Matthew 23:26, 28
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

We display an ingredient label on the outside that reveals what is on the inside. Holiness is our Christ-like-ness: WWJD, our character, attitudes, conduct, habits. When we were sinners, our life was filled with worldliness, worldly pleasures, and carnal thoughts. Holiness is a reflection of our heart being right with God. That is why holiness becomes our pursuit after we are saved and we desire to please God.

When we became newborn Christians, we received a God-centered motivation so we began a lifelong process of moving from worldliness toward godliness. Often when people make the decision to “quit church,” they usually mean they want to quit a lifestyle of godliness. But when God gets us, He wants to separate us from certain things:

Leviticus 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

Our desire to be like God becomes a desire to be holy. How ironic that one of the temptations the serpent threw at Eve was that by eating the forbidden fruit would make her like God. Becoming like God means becoming holy not disobedient. As my desire to please the Lord grows, I become more interested in having God's approval of all of my thoughts, my words and my actions. Our desire to please the Lord and the resulting changes in our lives is our holiness.

To God it is important:

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

How can I live for God? (part 5)
December 23, 2009

Facts about holiness

We are called to a lifestyle of holiness:

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

When you became a child of Jesus, you received a call to holiness. We learn from scripture that holiness is a lifelong pathway or journey, not a single point or destination. We constantly work to pursue and perfect holiness:

2 Cor 6:17-7:1
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Our holiness call is a call from a life of sinful chaos to perfection—we won't hit that target in this life but we constantly aim for it.

Holiness is God's way of protecting us by putting up barriers to temptations and sin. Always remember that whenever God says no about something, it is to protect us.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

How can I live for God? (part 6)
December 24, 2009

Odd illustration

Once upon a time, there was a baby born in a hospital whom the mother named “Odd.” After hearing the name of the child, the doctors and nurses in the hall chuckled. Odd grew up and entered school and all the kids in his school laughed at him. Odd grew older and got a job and at work he was always the brunt of jokes.

Eventually, Odd fell in love and got married. Years passed and Odd told his wife that he was tired of being identified as Odd so he said that when he died, he did not want his name to be put on his tombstone. Odd said, “I will finally cease being called Odd and will be able to get away from such ridicule.

The years passed and Odd died. And true to his request, his wife had his tombstone engraved with just his date of birth and his date of death. It seemed that finally, Odd got his wish and would no longer be called Odd.

However, more years passed and a couple was walking through the graveyard curiously examining tombstones. When they came up to Odd's tombstone, the woman noticed the nameless tombstone and called her husbands attention to it. “Look at this honey, a nameless tombstone. Isn't that odd?”

When you are saved and then called by God into a holy lifestyle, there will be people who will call you odd. But don't try to hide that identification as God's child regardless of what you are called. You're forever Odd! A peculiar person.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

How can I live for God? (part 7)
January 4, 2010

Staying out of hell--Lists of sins

Welcome to the new year. Let us move on to some practical scriptural discussions about lifestyle decisions that pertain to holiness. Many of you have been taking a close examination of your life and where you are going so this is a perfect time to dive in deeply into this subject of holiness—personal holiness—how you live.

In our walk with God, we are regularly presented with the question about certain activities, “Is this wrong? Is it a sin? Can I go to hell if I am participating in this?”

The Bible warns us that if we do certain things, we will go to hell. We will look at some of those things in various lists presented in the Bible. Let me say this at the start of this subject, however; while missing hell should not our only motivation for living holy, it is certainly a real fear to keep in the back (or front) of our mind. Let us start our holiness teaching by looking at three of the lists in the New Testament that name specific things that we are to avoid because hell awaits those who participate in them.

This is a very serious matter now before us. Questions arise from time to time about some activities that people debate whether it is sinful or not because the Bible doesn't specifically name them. Those issues may fall into the category of personal convictions. However, the following issues are clearly identified as sinful activities that the child of God must stay away from.

More tomorrow...

How can I live for God? (part 8)
January 8, 2010

Warning, we are moving beyond the “milk of the Word” and getting into some things that are harder to swallow, yet just as much a part of the Word of God. Here is the first list of behaviors that we will look at that are “going to hell” sins.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (compare to Colossians 3:5-7)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived, neither…

fornicators: the sexually immoral – sexual contact between persons who are not married to each other. This has been a problem throughout all the ages as much as it is in modern days.

idolators: worshippers of idols. Something that comes dangerously close in the modern world (in my opinion) is worship of sports idols, recording idols, and Hollywood idols. Remember, “worship” includes shouting a name, cheering, hollering, jumping, dancing, and running in honor of the thing/person worshipped. To what extend is your life controlled by these American idols?

adulterers: prostitutes

effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind: homosexuals, male prostitutes, sodomites (Colossians 3:5 “inordinate affection”)

thieves: people who steal, or take things that they are not entitled to or that belong to others without the consent of the owner.

covetous

drunkards: people who consume alcoholic beverages to the point of inebriation

revilers: slanderers. Has to do with speaking evil of other people.

extortioners: swindlers. Similar to thieves.

None of those “shall inherit the kingdom of God ” (go to heaven).

The parallel list in Colossians 3:6 states: “for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” From these lists, the Lord makes it very clear that those who choose to participate in these things without repentance chose to miss heaven.

For clarity of the point, it can be restated this way: Fornicators will go to hell, idolators will go to hell, adulterers and homosexuals will go to hell, etc….Are any of those activities worth the trade? Nonreligious people often accuse religious people of judging others for saying such things but it is important to remember that it is God's Word that very clearly and without any vagueness makes that judgment.

When Jesus was teaching a very strict teaching on divorce, someone who obviously disagreed with his stand said, “It would be better then to never get married!” Jesus' response to the man was fitting then and is also fitting here and now:

Matt 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

Not everyone accepts or lives by God's strict standards but that does not cause God to change His standard to meet man's standards. They can be received by those to whom they are given. It will be God before whom they will stand in judgment and not you or me. If God feels that way about these things now, do people think He will somehow change how He feels at the Day of Judgment?

How can I live for God? (part 9)
January 11, 2010

Lists of sins with destination hell.

Let us take a look at two other lists. We will look at Revelation 21:8 and another tomorrow.

Revelation 21:8 [list follows below]… shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Those who participate in the conduct/behaviors that are listed below have the lake of fire as their destination. If you have the time, don't breeze through it too quickly. Think about those that we might consider the “simple” things in this list and also consider your own conduct.

The fearful: means living without trust in God. Trust in God is the basis of salvation. If you are living in fear, you are not trusting God with your life's outcome.

The unbelieving: This is also at the root of the fearful. It simply means those who doubt of God. This person says with their words or their action, “I don't believe in God

The abominable: there are other lists in the Bible that name what is abominable to God. We will look into that later.

Murderers: Criminal, intentional homicide. I will add that the scripture distinguishes between the necessary conduct of a dutiful soldier/police officer and that of a criminal whose intent is to kill for selfish gain. The soldier/law enforcement agent who is acting as an extension of a civil government “bears the sword” because he is appointed by God to “execute wrath upon him that doeth evil “(Romans 13:4). Criminal homicide is what is in mind in Revelation 21:8.

Whoremongers: participants in fornication or prostitution.

Sorcerers: witch craft, black magic, astrology, horoscopes, fortune telling, games that explore the devil and try to make contact with demons such Ougi boards. The Greek word, farma-koi, refers also to drug use.

Idolaters: servant or worshiper of an image. We looked at this in greater detail in Friday's lesson.

All liars: includes tellers of “white” lies? All liars are headed to hell fires according to this verse.

How can I live for God? (part 10)
January 12, 2010

Here is another list to read through slowly with the goal of judging your own heart and actions.

Galatians 5:19-21
21 [list follows below]… they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God . (NIV)

sexual immorality

impurity

debauchery (uncleanness)

idolatry

witchcraft

hatred

discord

jealousy

fits of rage

selfish ambition

dissensions

factions

envy

drunkenness

orgies

These verses clearly declare that participants of these sins “shall not inherit the kingdom.” Stated another way, they will miss heaven and will go to hell because of their choice of sinful participation.

From these and other lists, we find several things God lists that we must avoid if we want to live eternally in heaven. And oh, there are others: such as unforgiveness – if we forgive others, God will forgive us. If we don't, God will bring up again our indebtedness. (Matthew 18:23-35). If we have a tongue that causes discord in the church (Prov 6:16), etc.

Although God is a loving, merciful, and compassionate God, He is also very strong against sinful disobedience. A place in hell is reserved for those who are disobedient. However, where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. What does that mean?

If you are living in a condition of disobedience and you find yourself on these lists, that was also true of several people who were in the New Testament church before God got a hold of them. After listing these long lists of sins, Paul said:

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Colossians 3:7-8 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these…

It is time to get washed and justified by Jesus.

How can I live for God? (part 11)
January 13, 2010

We are searching out the answer to the question, “How can I live for God?” In answering this question we look for God's opinion on the subject of our lifestyle and consider our own personal holiness. Is it possible to make lifestyle choices that either please or displease God? Does God even care? Does the Bible speak about this subject? Is it ok to just blend in with our culture and, “while in Rome , do as the Romans do?” No, the Lord has a counter-cultural plan as reflected in His command to Israel after they left Egypt :

Lev 18:3 After the doings of the land of Egypt , wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan , whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

We have a royal calling that carries both privileges and responsibilities:

1 Peter 2:9-11
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

When we feel drawn by some fleshly lust, we must call to mind our royal calling to help us abstain from those lusts. Like the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, we are only strangers in this land and our citizenship is of another country.

Heb 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country , that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

It is far better to be doing that which pleases the Lord—it has many advantages:

1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

How can I live for God? (part 12)
January 14, 2010

Are we guilty of legalism?

Before we return to some of the weightier matters of living for God, let us consider a criticism that people who pursue a lifestyle of holiness must answer. What are you trusting in for your salvation, your good and holy behavior, or Jesus Christ? Those who trust in their good works over the saving work of Jesus are guilty of legalism.

Louis Pitre, in a self-published article entitled, Legalism, September 2006, defined legalism this way: legalism is a term used to describe a doctrinal position that emphasizes a system of rules and regulations, rather than faith, in achieving both salvation and spiritual growth.

Legalism attempts to teach unsaved people to obey certain rules in an attempt to “look saved” and thereby are saved. We need to emphasize here that holiness is a study of how to live for God after one gets saved, and is not a method to be saved. We do not teach that people get saved by living a good moral life, and neither do we follow lists of rules to create mechanical behavior like robots that cause us to all look and act alike. We don't follow lists of do's and don'ts' to get us saved, but as a response of obedient love to the one who saved us—Jesus Christ.

Another thing is true about the Apostolic Christian is that we pursue and make decisions about personal holiness to separate ourselves from temptations. Like Job who “made a covenant” with his eyes (Job 31:1) to help him resist being tempted by a woman, our putting up a fence to keep us from a temptation is not legalism but our expression of love and gratitude to the one who died to save us from that sin.

How can I live for God? (part 13)
January 15, 2010

Let me return to the “lists of sins” we have been discussing. Have you thought about the fact that each of these lists was found in letters that were written to saved people concerning their actions and how to mature in God? They were not evangelistic messages directed to the lost. What that means to us is that although we may have participated in those things before we were saved, after we got saved, we must avoid them. They are “works of the flesh” which when practiced by saved individuals, means that person turns from obedience to disobedience and has turned his back on God and on heaven. They are choosing flames of torment rather than a tree of life.

Works of the flesh pre-select a place of weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth over a place of worship, singing, and eternal healing. I'm no longer what I used to be. However, if you are one who made a decision to live for God at some point in your life and have since returned to those sins, you need to know that if you are reading this today, it is not too late for you to find forgiveness. After all, Paul told those former sinners,

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Colossians 3:7-8 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these…

It is time for a New Years' put off. Have you repented and turned away from those sins? If you are reading this, take this as God speaking directly into your heart. He wants you back. Repent. Return to Him.

How can I live for God? (part 14)
January 19, 2010

Fruit of the Spirit

In contrast to the works of the flesh that can lead to hell, let us move on to some things that represent true holiness and living without condemnation for those on their way to heaven. Those who have received the Holy Ghost have the potential of doing something the scripture calls “walking in the Spirit”:

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit or after the Spirit is a manner of living that pursues to please the Spirit of God that dwells in you and avoids the carnal desires of the flesh that lead to or are sinful:

Rom 8:4-5
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

The same idea is repeated here:

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit , and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

What walking in the Spirit simply means that we follow the leading of the Spirit of God when He warns us against sinful urges of the flesh that come before us:

Rom 8:13-14
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

We mortify or “kill the sin in our lives” by listening to and obeying the voice of the Spirit. I heard of an encounter a pastor had with someone in his church after he had preached boldly against sin. The individual came up to him and asked, “Pastor, are you trying to kill me!” The questioner was surprised to hear the pastor answer just as boldly, “Yes.”

God paves a pathway of obedience for us—we can call it the right way—through every difficult situation; and walking in the Spirit is simply listening to and obeying God as He reveals that path to us.

How can I live for God? (part 15)
January 20, 2010

The choice between right and wrong is not as difficult decision a when we focus on the eternal results that will come out of our choice rather than the pleasure we may reap at the moment.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

If the situation has the feel of iniquity, evil, deception, sin, or lust, the right thing to do is delay the gratification until it can be achieved in a wholesome setting that God honors.

Paul gives a list of good qualities that are examples of what shows up in our lives when we walk in the Spirit. They are called the fruit of the Spirit:

Gal 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

By showing love to the unlovable, by feeling inner joy during disappointments, by having peace in a storm, you are demonstrating what happens by walking in the Spirit.

By showing longsuffering (similar to patience) and gentleness to people who try your nerves, by maintaining goodness when everyone around us is choosing to do bad, we are crucifying our flesh and demonstrating the walk in the Spirit.

By being faithful when tried in the fiery furnace, by keeping meek and using self control when tempted to show rage, we have demonstrated what it means to walk in the Spirit.

That is one of the highest reaches of holiness in our lives—we have chosen to walk in the pathway of the Holy Spirit—that is holiness with track shoes on. Live holy in those situations where the rubber meets the road and the light of Jesus Christ will shine through you in the difficulty.

How can I live for God? (part 16)
January 21, 2010

Modesty and our garments: Does God care about how we present our bodies?

We now turn the corner to cover a very practical lifestyle issue: the subject of modesty in dress. Does God really care how we dress or how our bodies look? After all, does not the Bible say that God doesn't look on the outward appearance but only on the heart?

Let us look at that often misquoted and misinterpreted scripture:

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Samuel was looking to anoint the next king of Israel . God directed him to a specific family of several boys. Samuel was immediately drawn to the tallest and strongest candidate thinking this must be the one. However, God reminded Samuel of an obvious truth: when looking a king, there are more important qualities to consider than height and biceps. God emphasized the need for a heart review. God told Samuel, man looks on the outside and the Lord looks on the heart.

Is the point of that verse that God does not care about our outward appearance? He is making a point that when making a choice of the king, what that person has in his heart is more important than how he looks. But back to our question, “Does God care about our bodies?” Look at what the apostle Paul asked of the church in Rome .

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Yes, God takes interest in how we present our bodies. Otherwise, the Apostle Peter would not have even needed to mention the outward adorning in 1 Peter 3:3 and Paul would not have mentioned modest apparel in 1 Timothy 2:9. We will study these verses later.

How can I live for God? (part 17)
January 22, 2010

Why is teaching on modesty needed and part of a discussion of living for God?

Teaching on modesty is needed to counteract the carnal natures of men and women and the emphasis on immodesty promoted in our culture through the media and Hollywood . Current style trends tell us the more skin that is shown the better. The title of an article in the Washington Post by Laura Sessions Stepp, makes the point clearly: “Nothing to Wear: From the Classroom to the Mall: Girls Fashions Are Long on Skin and Short on Modesty.”

The writer quoted a marketing director of a store who sells clothing for teenage girls and young women: “We appeal to an independent girl with enough self-confidence to wear our body-conscious and provocative clothing.”

Current culture falls way short of the culture of modesty set forth in scripture. We may desire the freedom to wear whatever we want, but God does care about what we wear and we should consider His opinion on the subject. That is primarily because we are to glorify God with our lives in whatever we do:

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God .

We are placed here to serve God and make Him happy through our choices. With girls, the mating instinct drives them to show themselves as attractive to the opposite sex, which is fine to an extent. However, it is her carnal nature that drives her too deeply on that path where she becomes flirty, touchy, desiring to look sexy and provocative, and to draw a guy's attention to her body. That is why the scripture specifically teaches ladies to dress modestly.

And on the flip-size, guys are naturally and highly aroused by what they see and often battle with temptation to take long exploring looks at a woman. Jesus spoke of that but didn't call it “girl watching”—He called it adultery in the heart. (Matt 5:28). The principles of modesty must be followed to counteract natural fleshly urges.

There are times when because of the fads of the world that the church has to be counter-cultural in order to glorify God, and in terms of clothing styles, that is certainly true today.

How can I live for God? (part 18)
January 25, 2010

Garments for glory and beauty

In recent lessons, we studied several New Testament passages tell us that to look to the Old Testament for examples and lessons for learning deep spiritual truths. Let us study the examples set forth for us in the area of modest apparel.

A good example to consider is God’s design of the priest’s garment. Here is God’ summary of the clothing requirement for His priests:

Ex 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

The priest’s garments were to reflect glory to God as well as beauty. That is a good example for us today: our clothes can be attractive yet still honor the Lord.

How can I live for God? (part 19)
January 26, 2010

Our garments should be modest
Here is an important verse that addresses modesty:

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,…

It is unquestionable that that verse calls for modest dress, but what exactly is modest dress?

“Modest” is translated from the Greek word, “kosmios” meaning, well-arranged, seemly, modest, well ordered, decent, attractive, proper, suitable, decorous. With that definition in mind, let us examine some examples of modest attire in scripture. There are several scriptures that teach us God’s standard of modesty, each of them making very specific references to parts of the body that should be covered.

Let us start by looking at God’s design for the priests’ garment. This is a good example of basic modesty that works for both males and females. Pay attention to the specific articles of clothing mentioned and what portion of the body they are designed to keep covered:

Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

What are considered holy garments are those that provide covering of the:
a.         upper body (holy linen coat)
b.         waist (linen girdle)
c.         legs (linen breeches)
d.         the head (linen mitre)

In a later lesson we will study the scriptures that address the New Testament parallel for the head coverings. From what we have seen so far, teh foundation of a modest garment is one that covers our upper torso, waist, and legs. More tomorrow.

How can I live for God? (part 20)
January 27, 2010

Another phrase found in scripture pertaining to modesty is, “covering the nakedness.”

Exodus 28:42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches (trousers) to cover their nakedness; from the loins (middle of back) even unto the thighs (legs to the knee) they shall reach:

Here is the same verse in the Living Bible:

Ex 28:42 Also make linen undershorts for them, to be worn beneath their robes next to their bodies, reaching from hips to knees.

Another verse that refers to modesty is in Isaiah 47. A judgment on the nation Babylon included them having their modesty shamed:

Isaiah 47:2-3
2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

The shame of immodesty, what God called “nakedness,” was the revealing of the upper part of the leg, the thigh. Also from Ezekiel 16:7-8 the Living Bible, the two private areas of a woman, her breasts and genital areas are called part of her nakedness. Isaiah 20:4 mentions the buttocks is part of our nakedness. 1 Samuel 5:9 mentions the male groin area calling it his “secret parts.” Secret means not to be revealed.

Compiling each of these verses on holy garments and modesty we find a basic definition of biblical modesty. Holy garments are to cover these areas:
a.         Upper body
b.         Waist or belly
c.         Hips
d.         Legs to the knee

How can I live for God? (part 21)
January 28, 2010

Clothing that doesn’t fit

With that biblical definition of modesty laid out, let us consider some popular modern American apparel and see how they stand up against that definition. In doing so, again let us remember that we are not attempting to establish a human-engineered legalistic standard, or being judgmental of others. The goal here is simple: Pursue God’s heart as revealed through His Word and apply it to very practical elements of life.

Here are some garments that do not fit within the biblical definition of modesty as they don't "cover the nakedness" or they permit the wearers' "shame to be seen."
a.       short shorts
b.       short skirts
c.       belly shirts
d.       halter tops
e.       spaghetti strap tops
f.       strapless dresses that reveal the shoulders and back
g.       very short sleeve, sleeveless shirts, tank tops, low cut tops
h.       most swimming attire
i.        split skirts that reveal the knee or any part of the upper leg

Consider that even a long skirt that has a slit that reveals portions of the upper leg when sitting, walking or climbing stairs simply serve as teasers and should be avoided. Wherever the top of the split comes to is, in a true sense, the bottom of the skirt in terms of what it covers and what it reveals.

Tomorrow we will look at the heart and try to reveal what is the basis our choices of clothing.

How can I live for God? (part 22)
January 29, 2010

Heart check questions

What we put on the outside reveals what is in our heart. Are my garments extravagant, showy, indecent, sexually enticing, do they draw undue attention to me or certain body parts? Why do I like this look? Is it because I want to fit in with a particular group, I want to be cool or popular?

When determining what we are going to wear, consider the biblical principle of ownership as stated in:

1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Your body with all its shapes and curves does not belong to you but God. We can’t take something that belongs to someone else and do with it what we want unless it first meets the owner’s approval. As we already mentioned, many clothing designers have sensual provocation in mind. By wearing something sensual in a public setting, the wearer is advertising or giving away something that doesn’t belong to them. We must take whatever steps are necessary to preserve, protect, honor, respect, and properly cover God’s property. It is another subject all together what one wears in private (in the bedroom or bathroom) where it may not be necessary to guard one's modesty. Yet even there, we must not forget that our body belongs to the Lord. Be diligent to teach that to your heart.

How can I live for God? (part 23)
February 1, 2010

Another principle to consider in choosing our clothing—lordship
We must ask ourselves the question, “Who is the Lord, or boss of my life?” We might quickly think to answer, Jesus! But does Jesus influence all the decisions you make such as those you make concerning your clothing styles? Who is Lord then?
Remember, when God saved us, we are no longer slaves of our culture where we are forced to wear what everyone else is wearing and do what everyone else is doing. We are servants of God.

To help you recognize who your heart is tied to, ask yourself this question, “By my appearance and clothing choices, do I fit in better in the world or in the kingdom of God?” Or, “Can I wear this at church without feeling worldly, and do I feel that I am honoring the Holy Ghost within me who actually owns me?”

You can often recognize people of different national origins by their clothing styles. You are a Holy Ghost-filled child of God and are not of this world but citizens of a heavenly country. As such, we are more concerned about looking like those of our own country than those of the world.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is true that there are some things of this world that we are simply not to imitate:

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Jesus was humble and his lifestyle expressed humility. What characteristics do our garments demonstrate? Your clothes make a statement about you; what statement are your clothes revealing about your heart? Whose attention and approval are you seeking? God or others? Who inspires your dress? Hollywood? An American Idol? 5th Avenue? Who are you seeking to identify with by wearing that style? Is this garment consistent with biblical values of modesty, self-control, and respect? Is this garment identified with sinful cultural values and does me wearing it reveal a hidden fascination I have with that sinful value? What do other godly people whom I respect think of this clothing?

These questions help us determine who is Lord of our life in the area of our apparel.

How can I live for God? (part 24)
February 3, 2010

Modesty check questions

Last lesson we asked some questions that were part of a heart check. Now consider these questions for a garment check that we should ask before we walk out the door.

Is my shirt or blouse loose-fitting and revealing when I bend over?
Does my button down blouse have any gaping areas when I move around? I may need to add a safety pin.
Should I be concerned about how many buttons are left unbuttoned so that I am not revealing something that I should not? That can look seductive.
Can I see under garments through my outer garments?
In sunlight, are my garments see-through?
When I raise my hands, does skin show down below?
Is my garment so tight that it exposes or draws attention to the body parts they are supposed to be hiding?
When I sit down, does my skirt extend below the knee?
Does a slit reveal anything above the knee? I may need to sew it or pin it.
Do my underwear show when I bend over or lift my hands?

These questions help us conform to standards of modesty that were handed down to us directly from the pages of scripture. We may as well listen to God’s opinion of how we are to present our bodies. If we have a heart to please the Lord, then we must take a look at the clothes in our closet with pleasing God in mind.

Why should we be so concerned about what we wear? We will look at that question deeper tomorrow.

How can I live for God? (part 25)
February 4, 2010

David and Bathsheba

Who was responsible for the adulterous affair between David and Bathsheba? Of course we know that David was responsible. He had the opportunity to turn away from the forbidden. However, what happened between them could likely have been avoided, at least in the way and time it did, if Bathsheba had not appeared immodestly in a public way, visible from David’s house next door. She did not take the necessary precautions to prevent the immodest expose of her body to a man who was not her husband, fueling the fires of lust in David.

Of course, David should have worked harder at governing his eyes and thoughts after he caught the first glimpse, so he is responsible as well, but this is a perfect example why modesty is so important. Jesus said that a man has the potential to lust and sin in his heart by mere glances at women (Matthew 5:28). Christian women should be concerned about appearing as an object of lust rather than a holy child of God. Your beauty and purity is a God-given treasure that God intends for you protect as a treasure and to share with only one man—the one you are married to. When you begin to show off your treasures to someone who does not have the right to partake of them, you run the risk of having that treasure taken away.

We must remember that our actions can be a stumbling block to others:

Romans 14:12-13
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Since we are called to demonstrate care and concern for others, we should be resolved to not lead others to fall and be mindful of their weaknesses and not just pleasing ourselves. The pleasing-myself-only attitude says: "I should be able to wear whatever I want. If some guy has a problem with lust, that's his problem." We are called instead to edify our neighbor not tempt him.

Romans 15:1-2
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
13. As a servant of Christ, we are to seek ways to edify, or build up the faith of our brothers and not to weaken them.

King David was not a wicked-hearted man—he was a man after God’s heart. He was simply tempted during a weak moment and Bathsheba possessed the power to either draw him deeper into his temptation or to edify him. By wearing immodest clothing, we send out a secret signal that says, “I invite you to look at me and consider me as a sexual object.”

When you do the mirror check, ask, “God, is this all right with you? Am I sending out wrong signals by wearing this?” After you ask yourself that question, then think about how your brother, father, mother, or pastor would answer.

How can I live for God? (part 26)
February 8, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 27)
February 9, 2010

Difference between male and female garments

We will continue our discussion on clothing as we examine the subject of gender difference in garment choices. Once again we discover applicable truths from Old Testament examples, just like the apostles said we would (Romans 15:4, 1 Cor. 10:6, 11). The Lord placed a strong emphasis on the need for the difference between the garments of males and females in this verse:

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a women's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

Abomination

Let us begin by examining the word “abomination” in the verse, and then look at what is being called an abomination:

Deut 22:5 … for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

The Lord declared that people who violate the moral standard of this verse make themselves an abomination to God. Restated, that means to disobey the standard established in Deuteronomy 22:5 is a act that makes people an abomination unto the Lord. The Hebrew definition of “abomination” means: something morally disgusting, an abhorrence, to detest and regard with horror. An abomination to the Lord is something that God thinks is morally disgusting, something that God detests, can't stand, hates and regards with horror. Because it is listed as an abomination to the Lord, it raises the declaration in this verse to a level that demands consideration as a cross-generational and cross-cultural moral standard.

How can I live for God? (part 28)
February 10, 2010

(Keep in mind that the present subject of study is mature Christian living--how to live for God once a person has found a saving relationship with God). Even worse than having God judge your behavior as an abomination is having the eternal destination of those who work abominations. By calling people who violate the principle of Deut 22:5 an “abomination” to Him, God is stating that they will find their judgment in the lake of fire.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

And people who are an abomination to Him will be excluded from the Lamb's book of life so they will miss heaven. Heaven or the New Jerusalem is the subject of this next verse:

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

All abominations will have the same end. This is why we are not to take the meaning of Deuteronomy 22:5 lightly or disregard it as an archaic cultural issue. Some other abominations identified in scripture that also end in hell include idolatry (Deut 12:31), cheating in business (false balances Prov 11:1), liars (Prov 12:22), homosexuality (Lev 18:22), witchcraft (Deut 18:12), killing the innocent and bringing division (Prov 6:16).

Although God reserves a strong judgment for abominations, He also offers mercy to those who repent of their abominations, so never think that there is no hope or that God judges one without offering grace:

Ezek 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel , Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

How can I live for God? (part 29)
February 11, 2010

What moral standard does the verse teach?

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

What this verse says is:

(1) women shall not wear what pertains to a man
(2) men are not to wear women's garments
(3) those who do so this is an abomination to the Lord

It is also helpful to note what this verse does not say. It does not say: A man shall not wear that which pertains to a woman. For the sake of comparing these ideas it is helpful to point this out. The verse clearly says that the garment that pertains to a man is not to be worn by a woman; and, a man it not to wear a woman's garment. The most obvious garment we can apply this to in our day is the clothing item we call pants. This is parallel to the garment referred to in Job 38:3 (and indirectly referred to in Jeremiah 13:11) where the phrase, “gird your loins like a man” appears, clearly referring to a garment that pertains to a man in distinction from that of a woman.

How can I live for God? (part 30)
February 12, 2010

More on “girding the loins like a man”

The two verses that follow refer to a distinction in the kind of garment that pertains to a man, one that cleaves or wraps closely about his loins allowing him to be prepared for quick action or movement.

Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Jer 13:11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

In my lifetime, I have watched the transition of who wears the pants in the family. I attended elementary school in the late 1960's when pants were considered the garment only of a man but watched them gradually become a cross-gender garment. Little Theresa, a girl in my third grade class in the local public school, was sent home by our teacher and principal because she was wearing pants and not the mandatory dress. My older sister who attended the same elementary school a few years before me reported how that the girls were even occasionally checked for proper dress length. But by the time I was in middle school, our schools had changed the policy and permitted the girls to wear pants.

Despite the shift in what has become acceptable to our culture, pants are still internationally acknowledged as pertaining to a man and dresses to women. Consider the picture sign that appears on restroom doors around the world to differentiate the distinction between the restroom that pertains to a man (a person wearing pants) and the one that pertains to women (a person wearing a dress).

It is accepted internationally that pants are a garment that pertains to the man even though it has been slightly modified to create a woman's garment.

However, our Creator said the woman is not to wear the garment that pertains to the man. A woman is not to wear a garment that is characteristic of, part of the image of, associated with, concerned with, connected with, referring to, regarding, and relating to, a man. It was the style of the man's garment that was altered for women's use so the phrase “pertains to” clearly predicted and refers to that situation. Men are simply told to not wear a woman's garment.

Simply put, the way to comply with the cross generational moral standard of Deut 22:5 is that women should not wear pants and men are not to wear skirts or dresses.

Where God states either an opinion or mandate on areas of our living such as dress, the growing, maturing Christian examines that area of their life and through the Spirit who lives within them, they seek to live in compliance with God's way.

How can I live for God? (part 31)
February 15, 2010

Proper head covering: New Testament head covering=hair

In our last lesson on modesty, we mentioned the example provided in Leviticus 16:4 for holy garments of the priest that included a coat, breeches, girdle and mitre or hat. We talked about the first three in earlier lessons—and now we will address the fourth, the proper head covering—the priest's mitre or hat.

When we move into the New Testament era, we find teaching on head coverings pertains to our hair and not a mitre, hat or veil. Why should hair fit into a teaching on living for God? The primary passage about hair is found in: (there are others)

1 Corinthians 11:4-7, 14-15
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

To summarize verses 4-7, a man must not cover his head and a woman should. Verses 14-15 tell us that covering is our hair. In a nutshell, this passage teaches that a man should have short hair and a woman should have long hair. From this passage we learn that the teaching on hair is an important part of our holiness because it demonstrates our submission to God. This scripture provides two reasons we should obey this teaching and we will examine them next time.

How can I live for God? (part 32)
February 16, 2010

Disobeying dishonors Christ

1 Corinthians 11:4-5
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

From verses 4 and 5 we see that disobeying this simple teaching on hair dishonors God, our head. There is sort of a play on words here: having the improper head covering brings dishonor to our real head and authority, Jesus Christ. That is the first point of emphasis—disobeying the teaching on hair dishonors God.

“Dishonor” comes from the Greek word, kataiskunei which means, “to shame down or disgrace.” Disobeying means we dishonor God, but obeying indicates our proper honor and submission to our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can I live for God? (part 33)
February 17, 2010

Disobeying causes shame

The second point is that disobeying this scripture is a shame. Not only is it a dishonor to God to disobey this teaching on hair, verse 6 and verse 14 add the word “shame”; it is a shame to the man and woman to disobey this teaching.

“Shame” comes from the Greek word, atimia, meaning infamy, indignity, disgrace, reproach, shame, vile. So disobeying the teaching on hair is a dishonor to God and it is a shame to the man and woman. The subject of these verses comes with strong emphasis as disobedience brings dishonor to Christ and also brings a shame on the individual. What exactly though is the subject of these verses? We will look at that next time.

How can I live for God? (part 34)
February 18, 2010

Women and their hair

What does this passage mean for women?

1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

A woman is to have a covering of “long hair” – which is translated form the Greek word, koma, meaning: “to let one's hair grow long or not to cut one's hair.” A woman can obey this scripture by allowing her hair to grow without cutting it. That verse also says that having long hair is a glory to her; or in other words, it allows the glory of God to be seen through her or reflected on her. A Christian woman walking in the love of Jesus would not choose to remove a reflection of God's glory from her life.

Not only is her uncut hair her glory, as we read in verse 5, it also shows she is in proper submission to spiritual authority. And when she is in submission to the Lord, verse 11 says she has more power with God.

To further emphasize the idea of long, uncut hair, verse 6 indicates that it is equally a shame to shave or shear her hair. To shear means to cut, clip, or trim.

1 Corinthians 11 is not the only chapter that mentions long hair for women. We know that the close friend of Jesus, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, had very long hair. Her hair was long enough that she dried Jesus' feet with her hair (John 12:3). Revelation 9:8 refers to the long hair of women.

Here is a summary of the meaning of this scripture for women: to be properly covered (head covering), the woman should not shave or cut her hair. Women that allow their hair to grow long without cutting it, honor God, avoid bringing shame to herself, allow the glory of God to rest on them, and have more power with God.

How can I live for God? (part 35)
February 19, 2010

Men and their hair

And what about men's hair?

1 Cor 11:4, 14
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

For man to have the covering of “long hair,” it dishonors God and it is also a shame unto the man. Paul says here that “nature” teaches this—short hair on men is the natural order established by our Creator.

How short does nature teach is short? Here is one example from nature: dogs: A short haired Chihuahua typically has hair ¼ inch long; a long-haired collie has hair 2-3 inches long. If this can be used as a lesson from nature, men's hair should be somewhere in the less than 2-3 inches length.

Gender distinction is important to God. Men are to keep their hair short. The man who is pursuing God's heart will want to fix his heart on what is important to God.

How can I live for God? (part 36)
February 23, 2010

Before we launch into the next level of this discussion on how to live for God, let us once again look at the motive. We explored some significant lifestyle choices from the pages of the Bible. We have discussed the importance of modesty in dress, the distinction between male and female garments, and hair.

Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

As people who have had their souls redeemed from sin and hell, we come before the Lord humbly and ask, “How can I live for you?”

How can I live for God? (part 37)
February 24, 2010

In this group of lessons, we are discovering how to live for God by doing what pleases Him—the pursuit of holiness. The theme of holiness is stated in this verse:

2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate , saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

There are some things the Lord wants us to separate from and not to touch. We are considering some nitty gritty and practical questions about personal lifestyle choices as we pursue that principle of “separation”. Such as…

What does the Bible say about coloring the hair?

We have discussed what the Bible has to say about hair styles for men and women and have discovered it is a shame for a man to have long hair and for a woman to cut their hair. We saw how that dishonors God.

While on the subject of hair, does the Bible have anything to say about dying the hair? The goal of dying the hair is to hide the true and natural color with another color. Consider these words of Jesus on the subject of truth.

Matt 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

In the context of the above verse, Jesus was discussing the practice of swearing by an oath to emphasize that someone was telling the truth. That is like saying, “I promise to God,” or “I'll swear on a stack of Bibles.” Jesus said people of His day would swear by Heaven, the earth, Jerusalem , or their head. But Jesus added, “Swear not at all”, not by heaven because it is God's throne, not by the earth, because it's God's footstool, not by Jerusalem because it is the city of the great King.

And finally He added this prohibition: don't swear by your head because you don't even control the color of your hair; “thou canst not make one hair white or black.” I think it is interesting that Jesus used our hair color in this verse about speaking truth—He was saying even our hair color speaks the truth.

More next time…

How can I live for God? (part 38)
February 25, 2010

Continuing from yesterday...

Skin color, eye color, hair color is determined by God and we can't change them. Dyes don't truly change hair color because hair continues to grow in its true color—the roots tell the truth.

Why change hair color any way? Some people wish to change their hair color to remove the evidence of gray hair to avoid looking old—which is a form of pride or vanity. However, Leviticus speaks of the gray head being a thing to honor and not hide:

Lev 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

We find the same kind of reverence, honor and respect for gray-headed people in:

Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

According to the scriptures, the gray head is a thing of glory and beauty, not a thing to be hidden or dyed away. And Jesus had the final word on the subject: "thou canst not make one hair white or black."

How can I live for God? (part 39)
February 26, 2010

Gambling

While living life and studying the scriptures, a Christian will ultimately face the question, “Should I be involved with playing the lottery, casinos, slot machines, betting on cards or sports? How about check stub office pool or raffles?

To best answer that question we need to consider the motive behind gambling. What is behind gambling is a love for money.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported in 1996: “Players lose $6 billion a year at Las Vegas casinos.” I think that is what Paul meant by, they “pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Gambling is: a wager or bet in which each player agrees to risk losing some material possession to other players in exchange for the chance to win the possessions of other players without compensating the loser, the winner(s) and loser(s) being determined by the outcome of a game.

For example, in a card game such as poker or black jack, people, often friends, sit across from each other at a table and agree to give their hard-earned money to someone else for absolutely nothing in return. There are no goods or services being given in exchange for the person's money, and there is no plan to repay the person whose property is taken.

More tomorrow…

How can I live for God? (part 40)
March 1, 2010

Gambling continued

One person will take the hard-earned money from another player without giving him anything in return. Simply put, gambling is stealing—stealing by prior agreement.

Some people justify gambling by saying, “All of life is a gamble, crossing the street, driving a car, flying in a plane, so what's the difference?” The difference is that there are no wagers and no stakes and no agreement to take another person's property. Risk is not the same thing as gambling.

Examples of gambling are slot machines, roulette wheels, dice and card games played for stakes, racetrack betting on horse, dogs, turtles, lottery, bingo, raffles, and even fair booths to spin a wheel to win a prize.

Concerning a raffle, if someone tries to convince you that the proceeds of a raffle are going for a good cause and you think the cause is worthy of your support, give them a donation without entering a chance to win. You don't give to charity in hopes of receiving back:

Luke 14:13-14
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Gambling is not good stewardship of God's money. What we have was given to us by God and we are to wisely take care of those resources and not waste them foolishly.

How can I live for God? (part 41)
March 2, 2010

Scriptural principles concerning gambling vs. earning

There are reasons that a child of God who honestly asks the question, “How can I love for God?”, will avoid gambling. Consider these principles of scripture:

Work for money:

1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Do not steal but work:

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Those who won't work, go hungry—don't eat someone else's earnings:

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Gambling goes directly against the work ethic taught by scriptures and encourages people to seek profit by causing someone loss. God was concerned about fairness where a person pays a fair price for what he gains.

How can I live for God? (part 42)
March 3, 2010

What does the Bible say about wearing jewelry? Since this is a lifestyle choice that is addressed in scriptures, people who ask the question, "How can I live for God?" will want to pay attention to God's heart on this subject.

In the Bible, there were times when God had His people collect jewels for the purpose of bringing glory to God; such as on the High Priest's ephod (Ex. 25:7), decorations in the tabernacle and temple (Ex 35:5), and ultimately in the glorious New Jerusalem (Rev 21:10-11, 18-21). We will look at Old Testament passages in the Bible where God “took away” the jewels of the people. We will also see from the New Testament that our outward adorning is not to include gold and pearls.

Isaiah on jewelry

There is a very practical list of items that God wanted to “take away” from “the daughters of Zion. ”:

Isa 3:16, 18-23
16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon [cresent necklaces],
19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands [headdress], and the tablets, and the earrings,
21 The rings, and nose jewels,

These were items the Lord “took away” from His people. Jewels were used in scripture for the purpose of magnifying the Lord in the tabernacle and temple. That is why in these verses and others, God chose to remove them from His people.

How can I live for God? (part 43)
March 4, 2010

Removing jewelry: an act of repentance

In Exodus 33, God was angry with Israel for creating the golden calf for worship. God called them “stiffnecked people” and was ready to “consume them in a moment” for their sin. Their sin brought them into disfavor before God so repentance with a resulting “fruit of repentance” or action of repentance was commanded by the Lord.

Exodus 33:4-6
4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel , Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb .

As part of their repentance and restoring a right relationship with God, God directly commanded: “put off thy ornaments from thee.”

How can I live for God? (part 44)
March 5, 2010

Peter and Paul on jewelry

While on the subject about, How To Live For God, lifestyle questions about apparel and adorning come to mind; or as Peter put it, our “outward adorning.” Both Peter and Paul addressed the subject of “adorning”, which means to deck or dress with ornaments; to embellish.

Peter had this to say:

1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.

Peter said our outward adorning ought not to include these things: plaiting referring to the interweaving of trinkets, especially gold, into the weaves or braids of the hair; wearing of gold adornments/ornaments; and the “putting on” of apparel. Paul also addressed this subject and more fully explained the “putting on”:

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Here the idea of modesty in dress is emphasized along with another reference to hair, but this time the word “broided” is used. The same Greek word translated “plaited” in 1 Peter comes through as “broided” here. They have the same meaning of interweaving ornaments into the hair. Again a prohibition of adorning jewelry is mentioned. “Costly array” is a similar reference to Peter's “putting on of apparel” and has to do with excessive costs or showiness. When making decisions on how to live for God, vanity does not fit in.

Major Prophets of the Old Testament as well as by the chief Apostles in the New Testament addressed the subject of jewelry as inappropriate for God's people.

How can I live for God? (part 45)
March 9, 2010

Does the Bible say anything about makeup?

We have been exploring the depths of the subject, “How can I live for God?” That subject touches every area of our lives. When a maturing Christian asks the question, “Is there anything wrong with wearing makeup? Should I be concerned if there is there anything in the Bible either in favor or against?” How shall we answer that?

In scripture, makeup is associated with the shame of the adulterer and wicked people. We learn from history that cosmetics had their origin in Egypt . It is not a coincidence that Ezekiel mentioned that, among many things, jewels and makeup are part of the wickedness that the Israelites picked up from Egypt .

Ezekiel 23:27, 40
27 Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt : so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
40 And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,

In addition to the command to cease from participation in the lewd things of Egypt , including makeup, we also find that wearing makeup was one of the trademark behaviors of the woman who is spoken of as perhaps the most wicked woman in the Bible, Queen Jezebel:

2 Kings 9:30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

In the light of the scriptural view of cosmetics, someone pursuing godliness should avoid using them. Products in this category include things that color the face, eyes, lips, and nails.

Another way of decorating the body that is spoken against by the Lord is tattoos:

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

The Lord says, “I am the Lord, don't do this.” God has set standards against putting on ornaments, painting the flesh and printing marks on the body.

How can I live for God? (part 46)
March 10, 2010

What about church traditions?

When we are making lifestyle choices on how to live for God, a resource for help can be found within the church, through our pastor and elders. They can be a valuable resource for spiritual guidance to help steer us onto the highway of holiness. As Paul said, some important standards are passed on by traditions of our elders:

2 Thess 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

As Paul mentioned here, there were some traditions that he wrote down in his letters that became part of the Word of God, and others about which he only spoke while preaching at their the churches.

Traditions that are passed down from generation to generation to help people avoid temptation and sin are worth looking at. Rev. Jack Cunningham, while serving as a national director of home missions, gave me this sage advice on the subject:

“Before we younger preachers decide to tear down a fence, we ought to figure out why it was put up in the first place.”

An event in Moses' life provides a good example of how spiritual traditions can be set by a spiritual leader. God came down on Mt. Sinai to give Moses the commandments. God told Moses to set the boundary around the mountain of God that people should not pass:

Exodus 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

God gave Moses the job of marking the line that no one should cross. It was obvious how far was too far but where was the point where it got too close for safety? God said, Let the man of God decide.

But isn't there a danger in giving such power to humans who are subject to failure or corruption? What if they are wrong? Let's examine this tomorrow.

How can I live for God? (part 47)
March 11, 2010

Warning about traditions

Let's first observe a warning about traditions. Churches can develop traditions for which there is no solid biblical basis. Somewhere in the past, someone with a heart to please God felt conviction about something and then preached it to a congregation. The conviction may have been based on a scriptural principal, a misinterpretation of a scripture, or maybe was not based on scripture at all.

I heard of the following examples from elders that these were once considered a sin by some: wearing a colored shirt, a neck tie, open-toed shoes, or panty hose, drinking coffee, listening to the radio, eating meat on Friday, or shopping on Sunday.

There is a danger of teaching our traditions as if they are equal to a doctrine of scripture.

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Some church traditions may actually be contrary to the principles of the Word of God:

Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

As an example, some church traditions include praying to statues while the scriptures strictly forbid that. Jesus said that was when it was wrong to keep these traditions. Going to a particular church because it is family tradition may be a bad thing if that church does not teach the whole Bible, or if its teachings are based on incorrect applications or interpretation of scripture. Let the Word of God speak for itself. It will be your guide on how to live for God.

How can I live for God? (part 48)
March 12, 2010

When should traditions of the church affect our living for God?

I would like to introduce what may be called the offense principle. In 1 Corinthians chapters 6 and 8, Paul describes another principle that affects our standards of conduct (holiness standards)—concern for others. Even if there is not a precise verse that says “thou shalt not do this”, there is a principle that says, “thou shalt not make thy brother to offend or stumble.”

In his day, many if not most Christians had been converted from Judaism, including Paul himself and all the other apostles. And, sticking to their Jewish roots, they would avoid meat markets that were owned by idolaters. The meat in those markets, for example, the beef, had been killed and dedicated by the butcher as a sacrifice to a pagan deity. Then after the ceremonial offering to the deity, the butcher would sell that meat in their street market. Eating meat from such a market was an offence to the faith of many of the Jewish/Christian believers.

With this in mind, while with such a person, Paul would not eat that meat:

1 Cor 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Paul said to do so was sinning against your brother, and by sinning against your brother, you sin against Christ—that is serious. This is where the religious traditions of your companions/associates come into play in decisions you make.

1 Cor 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

So another underlying principle of holiness is to not only watch what you do, but also watch for the appearance of what you are doing because of the association with evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

How can I live for God? (part 49)
March 16, 2010

Application of the offense principle

There are plenty of things that we may stay away from because we don't want to sin against our brother. Some things are just a bad idea for kingdom-minded Christians:

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient [useful, helpful, beneficial]: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Worldly events and entertainment venues where one is brought “under the power” of the mob is not beneficial to our spiritual walk. While some venues of entertainment/recreation that may not necessarily be a sin in and of themselves, and may even be good for our health, yet they may also have another side that is evil. Is that recreation or form of entertainment engrossed by gambling, immodesty, lust, drunkenness, idol worship, and violence? These are things which a maturing Christian will want to stay away from.

Back to 1 Cor 6:12, drinking alcohol and taking mood altering drugs fits under the last part of this verse because they bring users under their power. When making choices of entertainment or recreation, consider if participation in that thing is a hindrance to your faith or can cause someone to stumble or lose out on their faith or damage their testimony:

1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

How can I live for God? (part 50)
March 17, 2010

We must also remember that we are the temple of the Holy Ghost as we make decisions about how to live for God. God dwells in this body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Here is a good example of how to apply this scripture. Since my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, should I be puffing a cigarette and pouring poisons into my Holy Ghost temple? Consider what is in cigarette tobacco: Cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals including tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, radioactive compounds, irritant substances (for example, hydrogen cyanide, acetone, ammonia, arsenic, phenol, naphthalene). The main ones that cause problems are tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Tar is the main cause of lung, mouth and throat cancer in smokers and aggravates bronchial and respiratory diseases.

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that first stimulates the brain and then depresses it and is also a poison, it has a dramatic effect on the circulatory system, increasing the heart rate and constricting small blood vessels. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless and very poisonous gas that is taken up faster by blood in the lungs than oxygen. This causes the blood to have less oxygen to supply the cells of the body.

Cigarette smoke causes the smoker to smell bad and causes other people to suffer around them. In perspective, that does not make for a proper way to treat a holy temple. It is disrespectful to its sacredness. That is why many churches have a healthy tradition of teaching against smoking. It is a hallowed respect for the temple, our body.

How can I live for God? (part 51)
March 18, 2010

Another question a maturing Christian will honestly consider is, “Should I drink liquor or other alcoholic beverages? Depending on your background, this may or not be important. But for those of us who have had to deal with the strong influence/control of the stuff, it can be a defining question. What about it? Is drinking alcohol ok? The best answer is no. Let's examine why.

We are King's kids—that makes us princes and princesses!

Prov 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Strong drink has power over the drinker and also indirectly influences the lives of many others. As “princes”, we remember that we are King's kids and must live responsibly under control over our actions. Our actions DO influence others.

More next time…

How can I live for God? (part 52)
March 23, 2010

Should someone who has a desire to please God be a consumer of alcoholic beverages?

Some will do drink alcoholic beverages will point to some passages of where Noah, Jesus, or Timothy drank wine and infer that drinking is acceptable for us. Especially considering that Jesus turned water into wine on the occasion of a wedding.

But then on the side of abstinence, there are many passages that speak of the evils of alcohol and even forbid its use. What is the proper interpretation and application of the subject for someone who is simply hungry to live in obedience to God? The best interpretation of these passages will lead one to abstinence.

First it is important to remember that the same words that are translated “wine” in the Old and New Testaments can refer to either unfermented or fermented fruit drinks. The distinguishing factor is where some references are to “new wine” (unfermented) or to a passage that refers to drinking that leads to drunkenness (fermented).

Let us look at some principles on the subject that help us decide. Consider he plight of this poor soul who took the first drink and was led down the path to drunkenness.

Prov 23:31-35
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast .
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

How can I live for God? (part 53)
March 24, 2010

Peter reminded us that as servants of Christ, we are a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). There are some ways of our priesthood that we can learn from priestly instructions in the Old Testament. For instance, the priests had a prohibition against drinking:

Lev 10:8-9
8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

Years after Aaron, Isaiah rose up to repeat that prohibition and explain why it is important. Their vision and judgment are impaired:

Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

In the days of Jeremiah, he also mentioned the prohibition and noted a family that was very committed to it:

Jer 35:5-6
5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:

Tomorrow we will look at companion verses in the New Testament.

How can I live for God? (part 54)
March 25, 2010

In our pursuit of living for God, we are to be driven by the Spirit that lives within us. It is called “walking in the Spirit.” We are to be continually filled with the Spirit. In the following verse, the phrase “be filled” has a meaning that translates from the Greek more correctly as, “be being filled” or continually filled. It is like consuming food and water. We have to continue being filled in order to survive. The same is true of the Spirit. We must continually fill up with the Spirit.

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

But here in this verse, we see that what stands at opposition to being Spirit filled is being drunk with wine. Why? Because the alcohol has a controlling influence and leads the drinker by its own power. Paul described some of that here:

1 Tim 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

So to qualify as a Spirit-driven candidate for leadership in the kingdom, we must stay away from that misguided influence and control:

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

The destructive results of alcohol consumption are seen over and over again all around us. Solomon observed this truth:

Prov 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Some people say they do not have enough money to pay their rent or to provide proper food or clothing for their family, but they have enough to purchase alcohol, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Why? Because they have become led by another power other than God. Let the Spirit be the controlling influence not some chemical substitute. That is the pursuit of someone who wants to live for God.

We conclude this topic today on "How can I live for God?" and tomorrow will begin a very difficult subject: holiness in our talk.

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A Ministry of Anthony and Rebecca Warner

Bible Study

How can I live for God? (part 1) December 17, 2009

How can I live for God? (part 2) December 18, 2009

How can I live for God? (part 3) December 21, 2009

How can I live for God? (part 4) December 22, 2009

How can I live for God? (part 5) December 23, 2009

How can I live for God? (part 6) December 24, 2009

How can I live for God? (part 7) January 4, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 8) January 8, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 9) January 11, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 10) January 12, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 11) January 13, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 12) January 14, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 13) January 15, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 14) January 19, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 15) January 20, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 16) January 21, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 17) January 22, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 18) January 25, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 19) January 26, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 20) January 27, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 21) January 28, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 22) January 29, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 23) February 1, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 24) February 3, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 25) February 4, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 26) February 8, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 27) February 9, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 28) February 10, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 29) February 11, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 30) February 12, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 31) February 15, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 32) February 16, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 33) February 17, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 34) February 18, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 35) February 19, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 36) February 23, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 37) February 24, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 38) February 25, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 39) February 26, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 40) March 1, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 41) March 2, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 42) March 3, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 43) March 4, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 44) March 5, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 45) March 9, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 46) March 10, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 47) March 11, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 48) March 12, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 49) March 16, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 50) March 17, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 51) March 18, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 52) March 23, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 53) March 24, 2010

How can I live for God? (part 54) March 25, 2010