Health Today… Gone Tomorrow

By Steven K. Haught, Th.D.

This COVID-19 global pandemic has certainly reminded us that physical vitality and health can be with us one day and gone the next.  Chronic ill health or a disability can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life. 

As we age, health challenges such as a bout with Shingles can turn into a prolonged fight with neurological pain resulting in lasting permanent nerve damage.  Hand doesn’t work like it used to.  Can’t walk or run like you once could.  At first, you are depressed, once active and healthy, you fear that your health will never be what it once was.  One’s strength, courage, and vitality, physically and mentally are drained away. 

One day to the next, we never can be sure of what life will deal us.  It reminds us that none of us have complete control over our health. 

Still, we can take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of ill health. But what if our health deteriorates? Does that doom us to unhappiness? Not at all, as we shall see. First, though, let us consider some principles that promote good health.

BE MODERATE IN HABITS. (1 Timothy 3:2, 11) Habitually eating or drinking to excess is obviously bad for our health —not to mention our finances! “Do not be among those who drink too much wine, among those who gorge themselves on meat, for a drunkard and a glutton will come to poverty.” —Proverbs 23:20, 21.

DO NOT POLLUTE YOUR BODY. “Let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) People threaten the health of their bodies when they chew or smoke tobacco or abuse alcohol or drugs. Smoking, for example, “leads to disease and disabilities and harms nearly every organ of the body,” says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

VIEW YOUR BODY AND YOUR LIFE AS PRECIOUS GIFTS. “By [God] we have life and move and exist.” (Acts 17:28) Appreciating that fact should motivate us to avoid taking needless risks, whether we are at work, driving a car, or participating in a favorite form of recreation. A momentary thrill is not worth a life of disability!

CONTROL NEGATIVE EMOTIONS. Your mind and body are closely linked. So try to avoid undue anxiety, unbridled anger, envy, and other harmful emotions. “Let go of anger and abandon rage,” says Psalm 37:8. We also read: “Never be anxious

about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties.” Matthew 6:34.

TRY TO FOCUS ON POSITIVE THOUGHTS. “A calm heart gives life to the body,” says Proverbs 14:30. The Bible also states: “A joyful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22) That is a scientifically sound statement. “If you are happy,” said a doctor in Scotland, “you are likely in the future to have less in the way of physical illness than those who are unhappy.”

BUILD RESILIENCE. There will be things that happen to us, unexpected illnesses, even things like the global coronavirus pandemic that cause stress and can give us a sense of hopelessness if we allow it.  We may have no choice but to endure a persistent trial. Still, we can choose how we endure. Some become overwhelmed with discouragement, which may only make matters worse. “If you become discouraged in the day of distress, your strength will be meager,” says Proverbs 24:10.

Covid-19 has caused many people around the world to have a sense of foreboding, fear and anxiety.  Perhaps after initial feelings of despair, you bounce back quickly. You find ways to cope and adapt.  As is often said… “you go with the flow.” 

When things are difficult, where do you turn?  Why not consider increasing your personal and private time with God?  Prayer and meditation on the Bible’s positive message, can change one’s outlook on life and the problems of health.  

You begin to see opportunities instead of obstacles. The benefits of persevering through life’s trials teaches valuable lessons in compassion and empathy, which will move a follower of Christ to share the Bible’s comforting messages with others.

God loves His family and will always give you the strength and positive outlook to endure anything that comes your way.  Trust Him, and walk faithfully with Him each day.  No better journey than to walk with the Lord at your side!

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The Love of Money… the root of all sorts of injurious things

By Steven K. Haught, Th.D.

How often have you heard happiness and success measured in terms of assets or wealth? 

Driven by that view, millions work long, exhausting hours to make more money. But does money and possessions really bring lasting happiness? What does the evidence suggest?

According to the Journal of Happiness Studies, once our basic needs are met, more income does little to improve our overall happiness or our sense of well-being. Money itself is not the issue. It’s “the striving for [money] that’s linked to unhappiness,” states an article in the magazine Monitor on Psychology. Those words mirror this advice given in the Bible almost two thousand years ago: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have . . . stabbed themselves all over with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:9, 10)

The Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil, but talks about “the love of money as the “root” cause of many injurious things.

This is a key difference because the whole passage—when you read it in context—is addressing the state of our hearts:

• What we desire,
• What we pursue,
• What we live for, and
• Whether our hearts are set on things above, where Christ is, or on material things of this earth.

In this passage at 1 Timothy, the apostle Paul tells us to desire God and all the things of God. He instructs us to pursue holy things with great passion, rather than setting our hearts and affections on wealth and riches.

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have money, earn money, save and invest money, enjoy exchanging money for what we need or desire, or otherwise become involved in financial things…

…But it does mean that we cannot be emotionally attached to money.  An unbalance view of money and possessions creates many pains in our lives.  What may those pains include?

Worry and Loss of Sleep because Wealth has to be protected. “Sweet is the sleep of the one serving, whether he eats little or much, but the plenty belonging to the rich one does not permit him to sleep.” —Ecclesiastes 5:12.

Disappointment when the promised happiness fails to arrive.  In part, that letdown is because a craving for money cannot be satisfied. “A lover of silver will never be satisfied with silver, nor a lover of wealth with income.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) Also, a hunger for wealth may move a person to sacrifice important things that do promote happiness, such as precious time spent with family and friends or in spiritual pursuits.

Grief and frustration when money or investments depreciate or fail.  “Do not wear yourself out to gain wealth. Stop and show understanding. When you cast your eyes on it, it is not there, for it will surely sprout wings like an eagle and fly off.” —Proverbs 23:4, 5.

“Loving money” simply means you set your desire on that money, leaving room in your heart for little else. It means your emotions are attached to money; that the affection of your heart is centered on money. It means the posture of your heart leans toward the accumulation of this resource that give you power, security, love, or anything that you do not trust God to satisfy with Himself.

Money is a tool.  It is a method of exchange: something you give someone in exchange for something else. It is amoral—neither good nor evil. But, its undeniable importance in our daily lives means that our enemy, Satan the Devil, does all he can to rob people of a true, Biblical understanding of money.  

What we need is a simple formula to counteract the influences that the pursuit of money can have in our lives. Consider theses two qualities that promote happiness and contentment. 

Contentment. “We have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having food and clothing, we will be content with these things.” (1 Timothy 6:7, 8) People who are content are not disposed to complain or grumble, and their attitude protects them against envy. And because their desires do not exceed their means, they spare themselves needless anxiety and stress.

Generosity. “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) Generous people are happy because they enjoy making others happy, even if all they can give is a little of their time and energy. They often gain in abundance what no amount of money can buy —love, respect, and genuine friends, who give generously in return! —Luke 6:38.

Putting people before material things. “Better is a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened bull where there is hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17) The point? Loving relationships with others are more valuable than material riches. And love, as we shall see later, is vital to happiness.

Caring for others in need, using one’s wealth and resources  in advancing projects that promote Christ to an unbelieving world are the epitome of wise choices in one’s life.  

Wisdom is vindicated by its results. Making wise choices for your life and the results will be a reflection of your priorities and in whom you place your trust and confidence… God’s Word the Bible. On that basis, contentment and generosity as well as putting people before things stand thoroughly vindicated!

The Takeaways of this message…

Whether you love or hate or are indifferent towards money, I encourage you to search the Scriptures, not with the intent to defend or justify your feelings about money, but to submit your understanding of money’s place in your life to God’s trustworthy authority.

Read what God has to say about money from Genesis through Revelation. Whatever form it takes, God wants to provide for you. But more than being comfortable in your resources, He wants you to have a pure heart. He wants you to pursue Him and not riches, and to steward His gifts well for His glory.

However God blesses you, worship the giver and enjoy his gifts, always remaining sensitive to how He calls you to give back and bless others. And when you submit your finances to His Lordship and obey everything He says to do regarding money, your heart will be freed to center on Jesus—where it belongs. 

Hardening of the Heart… How does it Happen?

“Therefore the Holy Spirit says… ‘Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in rebellion …’” (Heb. 3:7–8).

How does a person get a hardened heart? You might be surprised by the answer.  Read on.

It can happen when you’re listening to a preacher. That’s because you decide how you’re going to receive the message before you even hear it. Some listen with an open heart, wanting to align with what God says. Their hearts will get softer, receptive and more pliable. Others listen to the same message and say, “I’ve heard that before. You’re not telling me anything new.” And their hearts will begin to stiffen.

There’s an old and trustworthy saying, “The same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay.” The problem is the same message that impacts one person positively can actually cause another person to become resistant to the word of God and a hardening of the heart begins. They become hardened by the very truth that should have softened them and become judged by the very message that should have set them free.

We see this in the life of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Despite seeing the many miracles that God performed through Moses, Pharaoh’s heart became hard, defiant.

The Lord had directed Moses to take his shepherd’s staff and throw it on the ground in front of Pharaoh. That staff became a snake, presumably a cobra, which was the symbol of ancient Egypt. Then Moses grabbed it by the tail, and it turned into a rod again.

I think this was God’s way of saying to Moses, “Take the snake by the tail. Face your fears. You’re going to overcome Pharaoh and the might of Egypt.”

Pharaoh, however, wasn’t impressed. And so he allowed his heart to become resistant to the things happening before him.  He would see, listen and ponder the source of the things happening.  He hardened his heart.  Closed his mind and would not consider any other power but himself.

God has given each of us a free will, the ability to choose. And God honors this privilege that we have. He will not force us to do his will. Sometimes it seems as though he ought to, things would be so much easier on the world, but he doesn’t interfere with our choices.

For example, God said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (30:19 NLT)

In other words, “That’s your choice, and I’m even telling you which choice you should make.”  What more could you possibly want?

So to Pharaoh, God was saying, “OK, Pharaoh, here it is: Release the Israelites, or don’t release them.”  It's your choice. Pharaoh said, “I’ll harden my heart” and I will do things my way!

The word the Bible used for “harden” in this instance can be translated “strengthen or stiffen.” So the Lord strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, which means that Pharaoh made his decision, and the Lord strengthened him in it.  Pharaoh was culpable. He was responsible for his choice.  There was no manipulation by God to setup a confrontation with Pharaoh.

You see, we make our choices, and then our choices make us. And if our hearts become hardened, it’s because we’ve chosen to harden them ourselves.

The hardening of the heart can happen to anyone. Certainly it can happen to nonbelievers, because every time a nonbeliever hears the Gospel and God’s offer of forgiveness and chooses to reject it, his or her heart gets a little harder.

But even Christians can get hardened hearts. Jesus’ own disciples allowed their hearts to harden. When they ran out of food before Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish, he said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?” (Mark 8:17 NLT)

If you’re a Christian reading this today, do you have a hardened heart?

One indication would be that you’ve simply stopped caring. You just don’t care about your spiritual growth or about your fellow Christians. And you don’t care about lost people.

Also, you don’t want to worship. When others are engaging in worship and praise, your arms are folded. In fact, you’re even judgmental and sort of look down on them.

Another sign of a hardened heart is that you’re always critical. Some people think they have the spiritual gift of criticism: “This is wrong here, and that is wrong there.” They’re always critical. They see the bad but never the good. That isn’t a spiritual gift; that’s a sign of a hardened heart.

Christians who have hardened hearts can’t remember the last time they brought anyone to church. And when someone becomes a Christian, they think, “Who cares?” It doesn’t affect them at all.

But God cares about lost people. And let’s remember that we once were lost people as well.

We want to keep a tender heart. As Billy Graham used to say, Christ can re-sensitize your conscience, and he can soften your heart.  But, it requires you to be open, accessible and willing to accept the changes he will do in your life.  

The Bible warns us in Hebrews, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God” (3:12 NLT).

Don’t harden your heart. If you resist the things of this world that serve to turn us away from God, to harden our hearts making us think we can do anything and everything on our own, if we turn away from that mindset… then God will strengthen you in your decision to turn to him.

In contrast to the hardened heart of Pharaoh, iron had entered the heart of Moses. He was full of faith and courage. And where did Moses find that strength? The Bible gives us this insight: “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27 NLT).

In other words, Moses looked to the Lord, “on the one who is invisible.” That’s what kept him going. And that’s what will keep us going as well.

Show Gratitude… for ALL God’s Blessings

It’s almost unbelievable that Jesus heals 10 lepers at one time… recorded in Luke 17.  Without fanfare, He simply commands the motley crew, “Go, show yourselves to the priest.” They exit stage-left and their skin is restored, their dreadful disease gone!

Jesus certainly missed an opportunity there to make a big, impressive scene. The Lord was never concerned with aggrandizement. What was unbelievable to Him, however, was the lack of thankfulness from the former lepers. Only one makes a U-turn to thank Him for His tremendous miracle.  Only one.

As the Bible records, “When he saw he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan” (v. 15-16).

Jesus was shocked and asked, “Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

The unfortunate outcome was that 9 of the lepers missed the second, more important gift Jesus had planned for them. To the lone, grateful Samaritan He responded, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Even more important than physical health, this person’s spiritual life had been reborn, restored.

Scripture doesn’t tell us why the other lepers failed to praise God. Yet it’s clear from Jesus’s response that thankfulness was the only proper response to such a miracle.

What was missing in the nine who were healed and never looked back?  Gratitude. It’s a spiritual discipline. A choice each one of us makes about situations and circumstances we find ourselves living in. Something good happens to us, how do we react?  We are either thankful or we take it for granted, thinking we are entitled, giving no thought to how our life can be impacted by the influence, an act of kindness, by another person.  

So what’s the big deal?  Gratitude realigns us to God and increases His activity in our lives.  How is that possible?

Here’s a theological sequence that is paramount to understanding this: gratitude begets humility, which begets God’s grace.

Let’s begin with gratitude. Gratitude has been called the “gateway” spiritual discipline. As Psalm 100:4 commands us, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” In gratitude, we thank God not just for the stuff that fills our storage spaces, but for Him.

Gratitude begets humility because it reveals our God-given dependancies. Humility is a heart condition that recognizes that all of our blessings have been received, not earned. It understands how utterly deprived we stand before a Holy God. We simply can’t advance God’s Kingdom, be saved, or even love God in return without His first loving us.

Indeed, humility is the right posture when relating to God—it permits God’s grace in our lives. As James states that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (4:6). Since God’s grace is God’s power, the more thankful and dependent  we are before the Lord, the more the Holy Spirit can work in our lives. God working through us to mature us and accomplish His purposes.

As we make this pathway of gratitude, humility and grace a habitude, it allows us to experience more of God’s presence and power.

Gratitude flows easily when we’ve landed our dream job or just fell head-over-heels in love for a potential mate. And it’s easy to lift up some heavenly appreciation when we only receive a warning (instead of a ticket) for speeding. But what about when we don’t get our way? Or how do we react when tragedy strikes? Can we still be thankful then?

Indeed, life is not always a buffet of delicious circumstances where we get to pick and choose which items we put on our plate. Sometimes we get served sour lemons.

Fortunately, Christian gratitude doesn’t require us to “turn our lemons into lemonade”—a cliché that might be found in some self-help book. Certainly, painful events can shape us and build our character, but that doesn’t mean we have to simply smile through the pain and pretend everything’s fine.

A theology of gratitude that doesn’t allow for grief is at best misguided, if not downright egregious. Can you imagine a passerby saying to Jesus on Calvary “turn that frown upside-down”… smile and everything will be better?

Ingesting life’s difficulties and tragic events can be overwhelming. Having a heart of gratitude, therefore, is not about looking at the bright side of things. And it’s not even acknowledging that things could be worse. Our thankfulness is never to be based on a set of circumstances. It’s based on a Person.

The answer to our pain and suffering isn’t new circumstances but God Himself. Jesus came, not only to suffer for us, but to suffer with us. Isaiah describes Christ as being: “Despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (53:3). Jesus understands our pain and empathizes with us.

Practicing gratitude rests firmly in the assuredness that God will ultimately redeem every horrible situation in this life or the next. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

This promise allows us to “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

It was love that drew one Samaritan to unwrap the gift of eternity. Saying “thank you” to God will always bring blessings. We can’t control what happens to us in this life, but we can always expect one gift… the power to hope and persevere.

We probably don’t give a second thought to such common events like watching beautiful sunsets, eating dinner with a friend or sleeping in a comfortable bed as undeserved blessings.  They are and we should take the time to be thankful for the smallest things in our lives.   In practicing gratitude, every day is a treasure hunt.

A Timeless Memorial Day Message from Billy Graham

A decade and a half before Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971, Billy Graham was in Boston to deliver a memorial address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The year was 1955, and he had just finished visiting many U.S. military installations in Europe. Below is an excerpt of his timeless message, which still rings true this Memorial Day as we remember with gratitude the sacrifices of so many for our nation.

In all the American idiom, there is no more endearing word than “buddy.” It is warm, with intonations of friendship, brotherhood and common purpose. We are assembled today to pay tribute to those, our “buddies,” who poured out their full measure of devotion upon the altar of freedom.

Thousands of you gathered here could tell dramatic stories of heroism which you yourself have seen acted out by your buddies on the grim stage of war’s theater. They have left this realm of time and space, they have out-stripped us in life’s races, but the sacred memory of their selflessness and the freedom they died to obtain will live forever.

Three weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with President (Dwight D.) Eisenhower at Gettysburg. He took me on a personally conducted tour of the Battlefield of Gettysburg, explaining the strategy used by both the Confederate and Union forces. Both of my grandfathers fought at Gettysburg. This famous battlefield, and hundreds of others like it, have become hallowed soil, where thousands of Americans have died either to preserve freedom, prevent aggression or keep intact the union of American states.

Some months ago when President Eisenhower was touring the Battlefield at Valley Forge and was being shown from one historic spot to another, he made this statement at the conclusion of the tour: “This is where they got it for us.”

What did he mean? He meant that those men, and thousands of others in all the wars that America has fought, purchased by their blood the freedoms that we enjoy today in “the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” That terse statement from the lips of our president has rung in my ears for many months. 

These battlefields of the world today are hallowed and holy to every American, and we pause to give them our highest honors, humbly realizing the sacred trust that these, our war dead, have handed to us.

I stood by the bedside of a boy in Korea whose spine had been torn away by a shell blast the night before, but by some miracle he was still living. He was unable to change his position; and if he lived, the doctor informed me, the rest of his days would be spent lying on his stomach. The army medics had patched him up the best they could. I gripped his cold, perspiring hand and said words of comfort to him. He made a statement I will never forget. He said: “It was worth it if it will keep America free!”

That’s what you call “getting it for us”! As we think of the selflessness and heroism of such fellows, we are reminded of the words of Jesus Christ who said: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

The freedoms we enjoy, the freedoms we take so much for granted, the freedoms we so often trifle with were bought not by the gold of our millionaires, nor altogether the genius of our scientists, nor the sacrifices of the people at home, but primarily by the blood, sweat and agony of those whose names on this day we honor—those who died that we might live!

They found, as have brave men of all ages, that there are principles well worth dying for. Their noble, unselfish sacrifice is a silent, eloquent rebuke to the self-centeredness of this generation. Let those who want “peace at any price” remember this day that thousands have died for honor and freedom and that what we have today has come at the price of shed blood. 

As I stood in the hospital quarter of the Danish ship “Jutlandia” in Korean waters by an American boy scarcely 20 years of age and watched helplessly as this young life ebbed away, I thought: What right have thousands of pleasure-seeking Americans to go on living when this lad in the early flower of youth has to die? And in that moment, the fact dawned on me that if he had to die for America, some of us must live for America. Sometimes it is far more difficult to live than it is to die. They have handed us a torch, and we have a responsibility to see that they have not died in vain.

Even though the sacrifices of our war dead have been great, yet the greatest sacrifice of all time was made by a man on a cross who died not only physically but spiritually that men might live. We have neglected Him too long! We have rejected His plan for peace, and as a result, we have fought, bled and died for centuries! I challenge the world at this hour to accept His program of heart regeneration that can transform the society in which we live, and we can know the meaning of genuine peace in our time. 

Yes the bells of liberty ring in America today because these men we honor today got through for us. The sacred memory of their sacrifice will always live in our hearts, and we have a sacred and holy trust—and we cannot fail them!

My mind goes back 2,000 years to another battle which was fought on a hill called Calvary. It was a battle of one young man against all the forces of evil. It seemed like a futile, hopeless struggle as Jesus Christ took on Satan’s task force single-handed. The jeers of the rabble, the spittle of the soldiers and the sneering of the people were incidental compared to the inner struggle which was taking place in His soul. But I watch Him, in fancy, as one hand is stretched out toward God and the other toward rebellious man, and He makes the connection and says: “It is finished.” He got through for us!

If we are to be strong spiritually, it will be through Him. Thousands today are finding a fresh, new meaning of life through Him. They are learning to say with confidence, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthened me.” We can best keep faith with those who have gone before by keeping faith with ourselves, with our highest ideals and with God.

Source: The Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College

Prayer Changes Things...

“Of what infinite importance is the place the intercessor holds in the Kingdom of God! Is it not indeed a matter of wonder that God should give men such power? Yet there are so few who know what it is to take hold of His strength and pray down His blessing on the world.”  E. M. Bounds

The power of prayer is in the One to whom we pray. God holds the power. Praying to Him is one conduit to His power. It's like a lamp. The lamp doesn't have power, though it shows light. The cord doesn't have power—it's just the conduit. Prayer is a conduit to the greatest source of Power in the universe. 

God is all powerful: "For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). 

We are invited to pray. In fact, in Luke 18:1 we read, "And he [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." Hebrews 4:14–16 talks about Jesus as our High Priest and says He can sympathize with us. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We have been given access to the very throne of God through prayer. 

We are commanded to pray. First Thessalonians 5:16–18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Philippians 4:6–7 and Ephesians 6:18 have similar exhortations. 

We are also taught to pray, for example, in the Lord's Prayer. "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil'" (Matthew 6:9–13). 

When we pray, our fears can be settled. When we pray, our faith can grow. When we pray, we can rest. When we pray, we can be at peace. When we pray, we can hand over our concerns to God. When we pray, we can gain confidence from the One who created us. When we pray, we can be healed. When we pray, we can receive guidance and direction. Again, the power is not in the prayer, but in the God to whom we pray. 

We can be confident that God hears our prayers (Psalm 18:6; 1 John 5:14–15) and He answers our prayers according to His will (Psalm 17:6; 34:17; John 14:12–14; Luke 11:13; 1 John 5:15; James 1:5; 4:2–10; 5:13–18) regardless of how deep or how small our faith appears to be (Matthew 17:20; Acts 12). 

Our access to God is made through Jesus, who came and died to save us (John 3:16–18; Hebrews 4:14–16; 10:19–23). When we claim Him as our Savior, our access to God is ensured. We can go with confidence to God. 

"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4–5). Prayer is a privilege God grants His children. The power of prayer is God Himself—our loving and completely capable Father. 

Thinking about our ability to access this awesome power should help us see the urgency before us.  Proclaiming Christ to a lost and wicked world. 

God listens and remembers every prayer we pray, and every one of them prayed through the power of the Holy Spirit can have a beneficial effect on earth. Not one prayer is forgotten.  When we realize the authority we have in prayer, mighty things will happen all over the earth that brings honor and glory to the powerful name of Jesus. 

We want to change the world for Christ.  In fact as Christians, it’s our primary purpose. It’s a huge task for all of us, but we do it one life at a time. Some are reaching people in their workplace or in another country. Some are reaching people in the hospitals or in the schools. We are all in this together. 

Our most essential tool in accomplishing God’s Will is prayer. Only through prayer can we get the job done. There is strength and power in prayer that can change the world. 

Prayer… Moves the Hand of God!

Be Humble... And Find Your True Purpose

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

—Romans 12:3

Some people love to talk about how well-educated they are or how successful they are or how wealthy they are. If you are having a discussion, whatever your story is, they will top your story. They know more than you do, and on and on it goes. They think they’re God’s gift to humanity.

But, as someone has pointed out, cemeteries are full of indispensable people. We’re not as great as we think we are.

The apostle Paul cautions us about this in Romans 12. He says, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (verse 3 NLT).

In other words, think clearly. Start with an honest self-evaluation. Have a balanced, realistic view of yourself.

The problem is that we sometimes envy the spiritual gifts that God gives to someone else. Maybe God has called you to preach, but you really want to be a musician and a worship leader. Or maybe you’re a worship leader and really want to be a preacher.

Perhaps you’re working behind the scenes, but you really want to lead the class. Or you’re leading the class but really want to be working behind the scenes.

If God gave you a gift, then develop and use your gift. It’s disobedient not to use it. Don’t think you’re better than you are. On the other hand, don’t think you’re worse than you are either. Instead, see yourself honestly.  A balanced view of one’s self is the key to spiritual growth and the path to maturity.

God has given you a spiritual gift. So, receive and accept the gift, thank God for the gift, and start developing the gift in practical ways to honor Him and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

And most of all… be content and thankful with the spiritual gift that God has given to you.

Majority of Pastors See Signs of End Times in Current Events

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Almost 9 in 10 pastors see at least some current events matching those Jesus said would occur shortly before he returns to Earth, according to a new survey focused on Christian eschatology, or the study of end times.

A study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research of pastors at evangelical and historically black churches found 97% say they believe Jesus Christ will literally and personally return to Earth again.

“While Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, many pastors believe they see signs his return may be close,” said Scott McConnell, executive director LifeWay Research. “These sentiments were expressed in January before the prospect of a global pandemic became known.”

In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples asked him about signs of his coming, and he responded by speaking of “birth pains” that would precede his return.  Darrell Bock, New Testament studies professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, noted that the Bible has several lists of potential signs of Jesus’ return, like the Olivet Discourse passages of Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21, and some include concepts of global sicknesses.

“Numerous biblical texts speak of disturbances in the creation that disorient and trouble people,” said Bock. “These disturbances have quite a range with earthquakes and wars being the most common. However, Jesus mentions plagues or pestilence explicitly in Luke 21.”

According to Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries, the idea of birth pains is not unique to the New Testament or evangelicals, as he said Ultra-Orthodox Jews also believe that these types of signs are indicators of the Messiah’s coming.

“The term used in rabbinic literature, ‘birth pangs of Mashiach,’ is similar to the Olivet Discourse,” Glaser said. “The pandemic is viewed in this way by many religious Jewish people who share a heightened Messianic expectation with evangelicals.”

In the study sponsored by a group of ministries led by Chosen People and conducted in early 2020, LifeWay Research asked pastors if they considered certain current events to be included in Jesus’ warnings.

At least 3 in 4 pastors agree Jesus was referring to current events including the rise of false prophets and false teachings (83%), the love of many believers growing cold (81%), traditional morals becoming less accepted (79%), wars and national conflicts (78%), earthquakes and other natural disasters (76%), and people abandoning their Christian faith (75%).  Clear majorities also see famines (70%) and anti-Semitism toward Jewish people worldwide (63%) as signs of Jesus’ return.

Around 1 in 10 pastors (11%) say they don’t consider any of these part of the birth pains to which Jesus was referring.

“For too long many pastors have shied away from teaching on birth pains and events leading up to the second coming,” said best-selling author Joel Rosenberg, “but the current pandemic demonstrates the need for solid, non-sensational preaching done in a biblical manner.”

More than half of pastors (56%) expect Jesus to return in their lifetime. Perhaps due in part to those beliefs, 89% of evangelical and historically black church pastors say that communicating the urgency of Christ’s return is important.

While most say they expect Jesus to return while they’re still alive, as many pastors say they’re not sure (24%) as say they strongly agree (25%). Three in 10 somewhat agree (31%), while 20% disagree, including 6% who strongly disagree.

Among those more likely to disagree Jesus will return during their lifetime are pastors ages 18 to 44 (27%) and pastors of churches with 250 or more in attendance (28%).

“Whether Jesus’ return is near or far, Christians believe these disturbances represent the groaning of creation, reminders of our mortality, our need for God and the accountability we have to him for life, both now and forever,” said Bock.

Other signs

Pastors are also likely to see several events related to Israel and the Jewish people as fulfillment of biblical prophecy and signs of the end times. Seven in 10 evangelical or black Protestant pastors (70%) say the modern rebirth of the state of Israel and the regathering of millions of Jewish people were fulfillments of prophecies in the Bible.

Similar numbers (69%) say those events show Christ’s return is closer. Around 2 in 5 pastors (39%) agree that the establishment of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem is a sign of the end times. Most (62%) believe another temple will be built in Jerusalem in accordance with a prophecy in Ezekiel 40-48.

Many make end times connections to Israel and specifically Jerusalem, in part, because 73% believe that Christ will return and reign in Jerusalem in fulfillment of God’s promises to David.

More than half of pastors (57%) believe the Bible teaches that one day most or all Jewish people alive will believe in Jesus.

Close to 3 in 5 (59%) say Jesus will return when the Jewish people accept Jesus.

Nearly all pastors (98%) believe sharing the gospel with Jewish people is important.

Among those who believe Jewish evangelism is vital, they give a variety of reasons why.

More than 99% say it is important to share the gospel with all people groups. Nine in 10 pastors (89%) say because Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. More than 4 in 5 (82%) believe Jewish people are special in God’s sight. The same percentage point to God’s promise to preserve a faithful remnant of Jewish people.

Around two-thirds of pastors (67%) say sharing the gospel with Jewish people is important because Apostle Paul’s pattern was to evangelize Jewish people first. More than a quarter (28%) say Jewish evangelism will speed up the return of Christ.

“There are details of Christ’s return and his reign that scholars disagree on,” said McConnell. “However, the vast majority of pastors believe certain current events correspond with prophesies Jesus himself gave about things that would occur right before he returns.”

End times teaching

Regardless of how close they believe the return of Christ is, most pastors feel confident in teaching on the subject.

Virtually all evangelical and black Protestant pastors (94%) say they feel equipped to teach on the prophecies found in the Bible, though more than a third did not give the highest level of agreement.

Most pastors also believe it is important to study and teach on biblical prophecies and eschatology.

Around 3 in 5 say it is important to preach on end times prophecies in the book of Revelation (60%) and the Old Testament (60%), as well as spend time personally studying eschatology (57%).

A quarter of pastors (24%) speak to their congregations about end times prophecies at least once a month. Close to half (48%) say they do so several times a year.

Around 1 in 10 pastors say they talk about it with their church about once a year (11%). The same number (11%) say they do so rarely. Few say they never speak to their congregation about those prophecies (3%).

“The current global pandemic will create interest among churchgoers and nonreligious people about what the Bible says about plagues, disasters, and the end times,” said McConnell. “The urgency pastors feel is less about stockpiling toilet paper and more about helping people be ready for Christ’s return.”

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Authored by Aaron Earls is Online Editor of Facts & Trends 

and a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources.

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