Author: Alice

1 Corinthians 8 Bible study
What about Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols?

What about Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols?

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In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul gives instructions about a subject which seems irrelevant today in many cultures – eating food sacrificed to idols. What was the problem faced by Paul’s readers at that time for him to consider it necessary to address this issue? More importantly, what principles in this passage can be applied today?

When Paul advised the believers in Corinth about meat or food sacrificed to idols, idolatry and sacrifices were as familiar to his readers as shopping centers are to modern audiences. On the other hand, people today are as bewildered about the practices of idolatry as a Corinthian would be in a supermarket.

The Problem Faced by the Church at Corinth

In the ancient world, there were 2 sources of meat: the regular market where the prices were higher and the local temples where meat from the sacrifices was always available. The Handbook of Life in Bible Times helps us understand the situation:

1 Corinthians 13:8 Bible Study

So Paul writes the 8th chapter of 1 Corinthians to help them see this problem from a Christian perspective. First, he tells them that in one sense he doesn’t really care whether they eat food sacrificed to idols because “an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no other God but one” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

Secondly, Paul realizes that food is spiritually neutral – meaning, food does not bring us near to God. In other words, we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We aren’t any better if we eat nor are we worse if we do not. However, Paul realizes that “not everyone possesses this knowledge” (1 Corinthians 8:7-8).

The “strong members” of the church knew that idols could not contaminate food, and so they saved money by purchasing the cheaper meat available from the temples. After all, who does not love a bargain? Not only that. They would also attend feasts held at the temple or in the home of their unconverted friends and eat sacrificial meat served to them.

The Christians who felt free to eat at the idol temple may have based their freedom on the correct knowledge that idols are nothing. But Paul is asking them to think about those who are not knowledgeable about this. He affirms what they know about an idol being nothing but he tells them that showing love to their fellow Christians is more important to God than being right (1 Corinthians 8:1).

It’s possible that the Corinthian Christians were reasoning like this: “Since idols are really nothing, it must mean nothing to eat meat sacrificed to them; it must also mean nothing to eat in the temples used to worship idols who are nothing.”

But all of this offended the weaker Christians, many of whom had been saved out of pagan idolatry. Paul was concerned that because they had been deeply involved in idol worship prior to their conversion, they might misunderstand if he and others ate food sacrificed to idols.

The Weaker Christians

When Paul speaks of a “weak brother” in 1 Corinthians 8:11, he does not necessarily mean someone who is easily tempted to sin. He is also not talking about being weak or strong in regard to self-control, but in regard to knowledge. Paul has in mind an over scrupulous Christian who is extremely careful to always do what is morally right and proper.

So Paul exhorts the strong Christians in the church – the believers who had spiritual knowledge and experience and who understood their authority and freedom in Christ – to care for the weak. And they are to do this by building them up and using their knowledge in love (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Some people have the false notion that the strong Christians are the ones who live by rules and regulations, and who get offended when others use their freedom in Christ, but such is not the case. It is the weak Christians who are afraid to use their freedom in Christ and must have the security of law.

In reality, it is the weak Christians who are prone to judge and criticize stronger believers and to stumble over what they do. As a result, it becomes more difficult for the strong “saints” to minister to their weaker brothers and sisters.

Becoming a Stumbling Block to Others

The real issue here isn’t idol meat, but rather “that the exercise of your right does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” In other words, Paul does not want us to do anything that might cause other Christians to sin by violating their consciences, for this would wound or destroy them.

Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 8:9-12 (NIV):

Do not be a stumbling block to others“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”

Why is their conscience weak? Their conscience is weak not because it isn’t working, but because it operates on the idea that an idol is really something. They have consciousness of an idol and when they eat meat sacrificed to idols, they eat it as something offered to an idol.

Rather than taking the risk of offending the weaker brethren, thus sinning against them and against God, Paul concludes: “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat again meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:13).

Application for Christians Today

Perhaps the issues today where most stumble in that are relevant to Christian liberty include entertainment such as movies, music or television. Does the kind of movie or TV show we watch or the music we listen to have something to say about the level of our spirituality? What about drinking liquor and smoking?

The principle here is clear: Our actions should never be based on what we know to be right for ourselves; we also need to consider what is right in regard to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should not cause a fellow believer in Christ to stumble over an issue that has direct relevance to the person in question.

It’s pretty easy for us to say, “I answer to no one but God and God alone.” But in doing so, we ignore a weaker brother or sister. It’s true that we will answer to God and God alone, but we will answer to Him for how we have treated our brother or sister.

At the Jerusalem Council, abstaining from food sacrificed to idols was one of the things discussed and commended for some churches (Acts 15:29). But Paul’s discussion of the issue with the Corinthian believers does not in any way contradict what has been agreed upon by the church leaders at the Jerusalem Council.

It must be made clear that the Council’s decision in regards to abstaining from meat sacrificed to idols was not intended to be normative for the churches all the time; it was only temporary as a means to advance the cause of the gospel among the Jews.

Conclusion

In summary, Paul is telling the Corinthians and the Christians today not to eat food sacrificed to idols if it causes those who are weak to follow their example. We are not to allow the freedom (in any area) we have in Christ to become a stumbling block to others. Rather, we should only do those things which build up others in love.

Freedom in Christ

Christians should not abuse their liberty and think that it is a small matter to offend their weak brethren. If what we do causes the weaker brethren to stumble and sin, then we should not do it. Christian behavior is founded not on knowledge but on love; and the goal of the Christian life is not knowledge but love.

Psalm 119 blessings
Blessings in Psalm 119

Blessings in Psalm 119

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Most Bible readers know that Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in Bible. However, only a few are aware that this chapter contains many blessings; it is also the chapter of the Bible that most magnifies the Word of God.

If we honestly and humbly apply the Word of God to our lives, God will surely share these blessings with us:

Note: Unless otherwise stated, all Bible reference texts are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV).

Joy

“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.” – Psalm 119:14

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” – Psalm 119:111 (NIV)

“I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.” – Psalm 119:162

*Joy is more than just happiness; it is an emotion resulting from the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful, such as salvation or eternal life. It is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Psalm 119:111

Purity

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” – Psalm 119:9 (NLT)

*See also John 15:3 & Ephesians 5:25-26

*The word “purity” is synonymous with “holiness.” It means to be separated from sin and devoted to that which is good; to be morally clean and without blemish. Some may think that holy living restricts us from enjoying life to the fullest. On the contrary, living in purity allows us to live an abundant life – the life that Christ died for us to have before the world was corrupted by sin.

Hope

“Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.” – Psalm 119:49
(NLT)

*The modern idea of hope is to expect or to wish for something, but without certainty of fulfillment. You desire for something very much but have no real assurance of getting it.

*In the Bible, the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” indicates certainty; it denotes “a strong and confident expectation.” From a biblical standpoint, hope is synonymous with salvation and all the blessings that come with it (past, present and future), as promised in Scriptures.

Right Values

“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me Your way.” – Psalm 119:37

“The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” – Psalm 119:72

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” – Psalm 119:103 (NIV)

“I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law.” – Psalm 119:163

*Values are those things that we deem important, for they provide direction and guidance in spite of how we feel. Values are what give us the reason why we do things and why we act exactly the way we do; they could be restrictive because of the boundaries they place around behavior.

*God, being the standard of good, is the source of all the right values. God is the absolute of truth, goodness, love and justice. In a world without God, what we call “good” would have no ultimate referent.

Comfort

“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” – Psalm 119:50

“The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” – Psalm 119:72

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” – Psalm 119:103 (NIV)

“I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law.” – Psalm 119:163

*God is a God of all comfort. Although He allows us to go through trials in order to build up our character, He Himself will comfort us. And the comfort that God gives will not only enable us to endure trials but so that we can comfort those who need comforting as a result of the troubles they’re facing (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

New Life

“My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.” – Psalm 119:25

“I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as You promised.” – Psalm 119:107 (NLT)

*What does it mean to experience new life? Here’s an article that expounds on the topic of regeneration: Born Again: A New Religion?

Peace

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” – Psalm 119:165

“My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.” – Psalm 119:25

“I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as You promised.” – Psalm 119:107 (NLT)

*Peace can be defined as “harmony, tranquility or security.” Everybody wants peace, yet only a few seem to find it. The world offers empty promises of peace, but true and lasting peace only comes through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (John 14:27; Isaiah 9:6).

John 14:27

Freedom

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out Your precepts.” – Psalm 119:45 (NIV)

“My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.” – Psalm 119:25

“I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as You promised.” – Psalm 119:107 (NLT)

*Freedom could mean many things to many people. It could be viewed from a political or financial standpoint. What is freedom from a biblical standpoint? Freedom is not the right to do as one pleases. Rather, it is the power and capacity both to will and to do as one ought.

Integrity

“Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously.” – Psalm 119:29

“My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.” – Psalm 119:25

“I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as You promised.” – Psalm 119:107 (NLT)

*When we speak of integrity, it always comes down to the issue of a person’s character, not just his words. As opposed to hypocrisy, integrity points to a consistency between what is inside and what is outside, between belief and behavior, our values and our practice, our attitudes and our actions, our words and our ways.

Wisdom

“You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.” – Psalm 119:98-100

*Wisdom is defined as the ability to discern or judge what is right and true. The Bible tells us that wisdom comes from above; it’s a gift and it begins with the fear of the Lord (James 1:5; Proverbs 1:7).

Encouragement

“I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your word.” – Psalm 119:28 (NLT)

*Encouragement is very important because, without it, hardship becomes meaningless; life feels pointless and burdensome. The word of God is the greatest source of encouragement; it helps us through times of testing and discipline and gives us the will to carry on while waiting for the Lord’s return.

Guidance and Counsel

“Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

*God cares about each of us and wants to direct our lives. He has given us the Bible so that we might know His will and purpose in all areas of life. By God’s own direction, we are to entrust our way to Him for His direction and leading.

A Song

“Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” – Psalm 119:54

*The better we know the Bible, the more we will appreciate the great hymns of the church.

Conclusion

In closing, let me just say that in order for us to enjoy these blessings as promised by God in Psalm 119, we must not only read them; we must put them into action. James, the Lord’s brother, tells us to be “doers” of the word and not “hearers” only so we do not deceive ourselves (James 1:22).

Fear not for I am with you
Bible Verses About Stress and Anxiety

Bible Verses About Stress and Anxiety

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Nobody is excused from stress and anxiety, not even Christians. We all feel stressed from time to time; we are anxious about our children, our finances, our health, our jobs. The long list could go on and on. Often times we find it pretty hard to find peace in the midst of a stressful situation. But what a great comfort to know that there are a lot of Bible verses about stress and anxiety telling us exactly how to deal with them.

Admittedly, my job has been the constant cause of my stress and although I trust God to take care of all my fears and worries, I still find myself stressing out every time I’m at work. I feel stressed thinking of the things that need to be accomplished. I feel stressed every time I see my co-workers not caring about getting their works done on time.

And whenever I get home and reflect on what happened at work that day, I realize how worked up I’ve been the entire day that I almost did not have time to thank God for all His blessings. Below are just 7 of the verses we can read and meditate whenever stress and anxiety kick in:

Psalm 55:22

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

When we find ourselves in the midst of trouble, our first thought is: “How can I get out of this?” But as firm believers in the Lord, we need to ask, “What can I get out of this?” In the same way that David learned to rest in the Lord and found in Him peaceful refuge while hiding in the wilderness from Saul, let us learn to cast our anxiety unto the God who never changes.

In times when you find yourself in the midst of the storm, know that the Lord is forever faithful and He will never allow you to slip and fall. You do not have to fret and get stressed out, for the Lord will be by your side to rescue you; that’s His promise.

Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The NLT (New Living Translation) uses the word “worry,” which means “to be pulled in different directions.” Our hopes pull us in one direction, our fears pull us the opposite direction, and we are pulled apart. Worry has definite physical consequences, such as neck pains, headaches, back pains, and ulcers.

Do you know that worry can affect our thinking, our digestion, and even our coordination? Paul exhorts us to take everything to God in prayer. Talking to God about everything – not only the “big things” but even the so-called “little things” – will result in God’s peace that will guard our hearts and minds.

1 Peter 5:7

“Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”

What does it mean to cast all your cares or anxiety on God? Luke 19:35 uses the exact same form. “Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.” This simply means that if you have a garment on and you want an animal to carry it for you, you “cast” the garment on the animal so you won’t have to carry it anymore.

God wants to be a burden-bearer; He is willing to carry your anxieties and burdens (Matthew 11:28; Psalm 55:22), the same way a donkey carries your baggage. But how is this possible? By trusting Him. Casting your cares on God means trusting Him to handle every situation because you believe that He cares.

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

As the Jewish remnant faced the challenge of the long journey home and the difficult task of rebuilding the Temple, they could think of many reasons to fear. But the one big reason for them not to be afraid: the Lord was with them and would give them success. God calmed their fears by assuring them and working on their behalf.

God’s promise in this verse is not only for the Jewish people; it’s for everyone who puts their trust in Him. However, you first need to recognize that God is greater than your personality. He is greater than your past timidity. Do not fear because He is your God, He is always with you; He will strengthen you and uphold you with His righteous right hand.

Recommended Resource: Do Not Be Afraid!: How to Find Freedom from Fear by Rabbu K. A. Schneider

Bible Verses about Stress and AnxietyYou Can Live Without Fear!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

Everyone deals with fear; not everyone conquers it. Throughout our lives, we all experience different kinds of fears. Unfortunately, many of us believe the lie that fear is something we have to live with. You don’t! According to Scripture, God desires every one of His children to be free from fear—including you!

In Do Not Be Afraid!, Rabbi K.A. Schneider shares a personal testimony of how he struggled with and experienced victory over fear—and how you too can walk in this same supernatural freedom.

This book shows you how to:

  • Identify and overcome the enemy’s number one weapon against believers
  • Unlock the power of God’s Word to defeat different fears that come against you
  • Pursue freedom as a lifestyle, not a temporary experience
  • Enjoy supernatural peace even while living in a dark world

Resist the devil’s trap, walk in Jesus’ supernatural freedom, and fearlessly step into your destiny today!

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Whenever Joshua faced an enemy and was tempted to be afraid, he would remember that he was a man with a divine commission, and his fears would vanish. Whenever things went wrong and he was tempted to be dismayed, he would recall God’s command and take new courage.

God does not only expect us to live strong and courageous; He has called us to live without fear because God is with us wherever we go (Hebrews 13:5). While we are to fear God and live in reverence of Him, Scripture tells us to live with confidence in God’s promises and power.

Matthew 6:34

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Worrying about tomorrow does not help either tomorrow or today. If anything, it robs us of our effectiveness today, which means we will be even less effective tomorrow. Focus on whatever God is doing right now without having to get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.

The Lord has appointed to each day its own portion of pleasure and trouble. So never misappropriate the troubles that God has allotted for tomorrow. Do not ever bring them forward into today in the form of anxiety. But believe that God will take care of tomorrow because He is not only the God of today, He’s also the God of tomorrow.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”

To “be still” literally means “take your hands off and relax.” Often times, we like to be “hands-on” people and manage our own lives, but God is God, and we are but His servants. Remember how Jacob often got into trouble because he liked to get his hands on circumstances and tried to play God.

There is a time to obey God and act, but until then, we had better take our hands off and allow God to work on His own time and His own way. When faced with a lot of stress and anxiety, let us learn to be still and acknowledge that God is the one and only victorious God.

Conclusion

Christians need not feel stressed and anxious. God is on our side and He has given us what we need in order to have peace of mind. He knows everything that’s going on in our lives, and although He can prevent or permit whatever He wants – including some things that could hurt us – He will work them all out for our own good; we just need to trust Him.

What do you think are the common reasons why Christians are stressed out and anxious? Had there been times in your life when you were overwhelmed with fear and worry? How did you deal with it? Please let us know in the comments below.

Is God in complete control of everything
Is God in Complete Control of Everything?

Is God in Complete Control of Everything?

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One of the areas Christians often struggle with has to do with trusting God’s hand in every situation. When things do not happen the way we want them to, we immediately assume that God is silent. But the Bible assures us that God is in complete control of everything.

In theology, this doctrine is called “Divine Providence.” It is the means by which God directs all things – seen and unseen, good and evil, animate and inanimate – toward a worthy purpose. We may not always understand the reason behind every event that transpires in the world and in our lives personally and individually, but God wants us to trust Him because He always works things out for our good.

In just about every book in the Bible, we see God’s Providence at work. God has a hand in everything and He is never OUT OF CONTROL. We also see this taught in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

The verse says, “all things,” which means ALL things – whether good or bad. It may seem to us like evil is tearing the world apart, but if we look at it from God’s perspective, we realize that it is actually playing a secondary role for God to carry out His greater purpose. God allows things for a reason and His plan is always good.

God’s Providence in the Life of Joseph

The Joseph Narrative contained in Genesis chapters 37 and 39-50 is one of the best illustrations of God’s providence. When we read through these chapters, we see that Joseph is the central human character at nearly every point.

Who is Joseph? And how did God use every detail in his life to fulfill His plan? Joseph was the 11th among the 12 sons of Jacob, he was the first son of Jacob with Rachel, he had a younger brother named Benjamin and he was Jacob’s favorite and most loved among all his sons.

A. Joseph Sold by His brothers

Out of hatred, Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him when he followed them to Shechem and into Dothan pasturing their flocks (Genesis 37:18-20). They hated Joseph for three reasons: 1) he reported to his father the bad things that they were doing (Genesis 37:2), 2) he was their father’s favorite son and made him a coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3-4), and 3) he told them his dreams of arrogant superiority (Genesis 37:6-8, 9-10).

“Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph – a beautiful robe.” – Genesis 37:3

God's Greater Purpose in the Life of Joseph
Photo Credits: Fox On Green

But God used Reuben, their eldest brother, to deliver him out of their hands (Genesis 37:21-22). Eventually, they sold him to the Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28), who in turn sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (Genesis 37:36).

B. Joseph Becomes Administrator 

While in Egypt, Joseph worked for his master Potiphar and became a successful administrator. Why? Was it because he was smart and possessed extraordinary administrative skills? Not really!

The Bible clearly identifies the reason. Joseph succeeded in everything he did because the Lord was with him … the Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2-3) and for Joseph’s sake, the Lord blessed Potiphar’s household and all that he had (Genesis 39:5).

Unfairly jailed, Joseph rose to inmate administrator (Genesis 39:19-20). Why? Again, the Bible leaves no doubt as to who is responsible for Joseph’s success. The Lord was with Joseph in the prison; He showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the warden, who put him in charge of all the other prisoners and everything that happened in the prison (Genesis 39:21-23).

“But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison … the Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.” – Genesis 39:21, 23

The inspired narrator pointed to God as the One working things out for Joseph. It’s all God. God is in complete control of everything that‘s happening in the life of Joseph. Whatever managerial skills Joseph might have had clearly played a secondary role in God’s intervention in his life.

C. Joseph Interprets Two Dreams

When we read that Joseph was thrown into prison, we would think that it’s the end of the narrative. But God isn’t finished yet, not by a long shot. When Pharaoh’s chief cup bearer and chief baker who were put in prison by their master each had a dream, Joseph interpreted it for them. However, the chief cup bearer who was restored to his former position as Joseph predicted forgot all about him (Genesis 40:23).

D. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

Two full years had passed when Pharaoh had two dreams that no one could interpret; not even the magicians and wise men of Egypt. And that was when the chief cup bearer remembered Joseph who was still in prison. He told Pharaoh about Joseph who interpreted his and the chief baker’s dreams.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph and asked for the interpretation of his two dreams, which are about the 7 years of plenty that are about to come followed by 7 years of famine. Because of the wisdom that God gave Joseph to interpret his dreams, Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all Egypt, second in rank to him.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” – Genesis 41:41

God's Divine Providence in the Life of Joseph

During the 7 years of prosperity, Joseph gathered and stored an immeasurable amount of grain in Egypt. So when the 7 years of famine began, people all around the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.

E. Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

While in Canaan, Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt. So he sent his sons, except Benjamin, to Egypt to buy grain. After 13 years, Joseph came face to face with his brothers once again. But they did not recognize him.

After several trips to Egypt, Joseph’s brothers settled there. Their father Jacob also went to Egypt, along with all his descendants, livestock and goods, and they all settled in Goshen.

God’s Greater Purpose in the Life of Joseph

The entire process of Joseph’s fall and rise to power was God’s doing. His release from prison because of his God-given interpretation skills, his exaltation to power and the opportunity to help his family during the famine all point to God’s providence.

The focus in the narrative was on God, and He can accomplish what He wills. Even the evil intent of Joseph’s brothers toward him was used by God to fulfill His purpose. As he said to his brothers, “Am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:19-20).

The chain of events that took place was part of God’s bigger plan for Israel as a nation. God sent Joseph to Egypt ahead of his family in order to make way for the preservation of the Canaanites and Egyptians together with them during the time of famine. How did God get Joseph to Egypt? By allowing his brothers the freedom to sin.

As it turned out, Egypt was where God built up and multiplied His people. God prepared them there for the exodus and conquest that He would use to give them the land that He promised to Abraham – the land that’s flowing with milk and honey: Canaan.

Conclusion

God is in control of everything. In the same way that God worked in the life of Joseph, and used even his mistakes and allowed him to experience misfortunes in order to accomplish His purpose, God is also working in the life of every believer who loves Him to carry out His will.

Whatever you’re going through, know that God will use them all for your own good. He can even turn the bad things into blessings for you. God called all believers for a purpose and He will accomplish it. We can make many plans but in the end, it’s the Lord’s purpose that will prevail (Proverbs 19:21).

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission when you use any links on this page to make a purchase, but at no additional cost to you.

Recommended Resource: Joseph the Dreamer: Insights from the Life of a Favorite Son by John Eckhardt

See the life of Joseph in a different light!

In this character study, John Eckhardt examines the uplifting life of Joseph, the dreamer. Many know of his plight and coat of many colors, but few know how his life shares multiple similarities with Jacob and Jesus.

Jealousy, betrayal and lies put Joseph in the lowest of all places before favor brought him to rule over Egypt. Through slavery and prison his story emphasizes how forgiveness & integrity will lead you to your destiny.

Joseph’s story is one of the most compelling in scripture and we can all learn from this great man!

The prison of unforgiveness
Lessons from the Unforgiving Servant

Lessons from the Unforgiving Servant

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We know that Jesus often spoke in parables in order to teach and illustrate profound, divine truths. In the parable of the unforgiving servant which is found only in Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus teaches several lessons on forgiveness and how to deal with unforgiveness.

The Definition of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender. When you forgive someone, you basically dismiss or release that person from all charges against you.

In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus equated forgiveness with canceling a debt. That is because, in the Bible, the Greek word translated “forgiveness” literally means “to let go,” as when a person does not demand payment for a debt.

The Frequency of Forgiveness

The passage begins with Peter asking Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? (Matthew 18:21)” By offering up the suggestion of the figure of seven, Peter thought that he was being over-generous and extremely loving. That is because many Jewish rabbis of that time taught that three times was the accepted limit.

But Jesus said to Peter, “not up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” Matthew 18:22). Did Jesus really mean 490 times is the limit? And deny forgiveness at the 491st offense (70X7 =490)? Of course not! The idea behind “up to seventy times seven” is UNLIMITED forgiveness. Jesus is saying, “There should be no limit to your forgiveness, Peter. So stop counting and just keep on forgiving!”

Hindrances to Forgiveness and How to Overcome them

1) Forgetting what we have been forgiven from.

Where the servant failed is in forgetting how much he was forgiven of. He forgot the merciful treatment his master gave him. He forgot how his master forgave him of his “unpayable” debt.

The denarius and talent were units of currency used in the New Testament times. A denarius is a Roman silver coin weighing 4 grams and is equivalent to a day’s wages for a common laborer and soldier (Matthew 20:1-2). While a talent which is a unit weight for gold typically weighed about 33 kg (75 lbs).

Item Unit Value
1 Denarius 4 g of silver coin A day’s wages
1 Talent (6,000 Denarii) About 33 kg of gold 16 years’ wages

 

The servant owed his master 10,000 talents (60 M Denarii) which is worth about 160,000 years’ wages, a tremendous amount of money which he could never pay in his lifetime in his own strength and ability. His co-servant owed him 100 denarii (roughly a hundred days’ wages), which was almost nothing compared to the debt forgiven by his master.

Note: Most commentators list the modern value of ten thousand talents as anywhere between $12 million and $1 billion US dollars.

Ten Thousand Talents

In the same way, we too have committed grave sins against God deserving of punishment. But because of God’s great love, mercy and compassion, He wanted to pardon us. He does not want us to rot in hell to pay for our sins that is why He Himself provided a way for us to be forgiven, even if it means sacrificing His only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary (John 3:16; John 14:6).

Let us not make the same mistake that the unforgiving servant did. Let us always make sure to remember how God forgave our enormous debt. In times when we are tempted to lose patience with someone or withhold forgiveness, let us remember the great mercy God has shown us when we needed it.

2) Anger that can lead to bitterness and revenge.

When we are offended, it’s but natural to feel hurt and anger. But anger in itself is not a sin. Even Jesus got angry when He saw the people buying and selling goods in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13).

It’s what you do when you’re angry that might cause you to sin. That is why there is a warning in Ephesians 6:26-27 about not letting anger control us; we should not hold on to anger for more than a day. Because anger when not properly dealt with will lead to bitterness which in turn will lead to a strong desire to seek revenge against the offender.

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

Do you know that a root of bitterness can grow up in a person because of unforgiveness? This root can be buried deep inside your heart which not only blocks the flow of God’s love from penetrating deep within your heart; it also blocks the flow of God’s love for others through you.

When the king found out that his servant whose debt he canceled did not forgive his co-worker who owed him a much lesser amount, he gave him up to the torturers until he should pay all his debt. In the same way, Christians with an unforgiving spirit find themselves miserable, unhappy, tortured and slowly being eaten up by anger and bitterness. As a result, they would want to seek revenge against their offenders.

In your anger do not sin

Some of the most miserable people are those who will not forgive others. They live only to imagine ways to punish the people who have wronged them. But they are really only punishing themselves.

The word of God tells us not to take revenge but to leave it to God. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

3) Unwillingness to forgive.

Going back to the passage, the servant who was forgiven of his “unpayable” debt of 10,000 talents was unwilling to forgive his co-worker whose debt did not even amount to 1 talent. His co-worker begged him for more time to pay his debt but he refused and threw him into prison.

Often times Christians find themselves doing the exact same thing to their offenders. They find it hard to forgive despite knowing how God has not only forgiven them of their sins but were also declared righteous in the sight of God.

We often pray the Lord’s Prayer. We say, “Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Do we really know what we’re asking? Do we know the depths of this prayer? When we ask God to forgive our sins, we’re actually asking God for something that we’re not prepared to give to others.

The Lord's Prayer

This is plain “hypocrisy.” We want God to just cover all our sins but we’re not willing to reach out and forgive others. This should not be! Any sin that others could ever commit against us is just like the hundred denarii; it is insignificant compared to the horrible sins we have committed and will commit against God all the days of our lives.

Why Should We Forgive?

1) We forgive because we have been forgiven.

1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:7

The first point of being forgiven is acknowledging that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. And since we’ve been forgiven so much, we must also choose to forgive others.

2) We forgive out of obedience to the Lord.

Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32

Having a proper understanding of how much we have been forgiven would make it easier for us to recognize how much “God in Christ forgave” us.

Having received God’s infinite forgiveness would naturally make us want to forgive others. We commit sin every day; in our thoughts and in what we say and do. And God is faithful to forgive us when we acknowledge our sins and confess them (1 John 1:9).

3) We forgive so that God will forgive our sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus warned that God cannot forgive us if we do not have humble and repentant hearts. The true condition of our hearts is revealed by the way we treat others. When our hearts are humble and repentant, we will gladly forgive our brothers and sisters.

4) We forgive so that our prayers will not be hindered.

Mark 11:24-25

One of the reasons we do not receive what we ask for in prayer is an unforgiving spirit. Do you want to live a victorious Christian life? Forgive. Want to experience God’s presence and power in your life? Forgive. Do you want to be effective in your ministry? Forgive. And you must forgive from your heart.

To forgive from your heart does not mean forgetting the offense. Let’s face it, no matter how many years will pass by, we will never forget the incident. Consider God’s perspective; He is an omniscient God, He knows everything and nothing is hidden from His sight.

But when God forgives, He will also “forget” our sins and “remembers them no more” (Hebrews 8:12; Isaiah 43:25). Well, it does not mean that God will suddenly have amnesia. It means God does not hold our sins against us anymore. This tells us that when God expects us to forgive those who have wronged us, He also expects us to not hold the person accountable for his sins any longer.

How to Forgive when it Hurts

You may ask, “How can God expect me to forgive when I am hurting so badly? And how do I forgive when I don’t feel like it?” We forgive by faith. Forgiveness just like loving our enemies is against our nature, so we must forgive by faith.

Corrie Ten BoomNo matter how hurt we are; whether we feel like it or not, we must choose to forgive. Forgiveness is a conscious choice that we make through a decision of our will, regardless of how we feel.

When asked about how she was able to forgive the people who have caused her a lot of pain and suffering, Corrie Ten Boom in her book Hiding Place made this powerful statement:

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”

How to Know if We have Truly Forgiven

We must understand that forgiveness does not always come easy. It’s not a one-time choice that we do and then we automatically live in a state of forgiveness. Most of the time, forgiveness is a slow process.

For some, the act of forgiving may take a lifetime. The most important thing is we continue to forgive until the matter is settled in our hearts. But how do we know if we have truly forgiven? Freedom comes as a result when Lewis Smedesforgiveness is complete.

The world’s worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart. Just like the unforgiving servant who was thrown into prison by his master, you are also imprisoning yourself and causing your own torment if you refuse to forgive others.

Lewis Smedes in his book Forgive and Forget says, “When you release a wrongdoer from the wrong, you set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself.”

Conclusion

One of the best ways to break down the wall of unforgiveness in our heart is prayer. If you have been wronged or badly treated by someone, why not begin praying for that person. And as you pray, God will give you new eyes to see and heart to care for that person. You will begin to see them the way God does – a guilty sinner who is in need of forgiveness just like us.

And if God did not withhold His forgiveness from us, who are we to withhold our forgiveness from others? It is normal for us to be angry toward sin and injustice but it is not our job to judge others in their sin.

If you have had experiences with having to deal with unforgiveness in your heart, please do share your testimony in the comment below.

Recommended Resource: Radical Forgiveness: A Revolutionary Five-Stage Process to Heal Relationships, Let Go of Anger and Blame, and Find Peace in Any Situation by Colin Tipping

Experience the Liberating Power of “Radical Forgiveness”

Radical Forgiveness: A Revolutionary Five-Stage Process to Heal Relationships, Let Go of Anger and Blame, and Find Peace in Any Situation by Colin TippingIs there a divine purpose behind everything that happens?

If you’re willing to embrace that possibility, every aspect of your life can change. This is the theory behind Colin Tipping’s revolutionary method for experiencing the freedom, peace, and renewed energy that comes with Radical Forgiveness.

Radical Forgiveness gives us step-by-step instruction in what begins as a healing process and culminates in an entirely new way of living in the world.

Radical Forgiveness is available in both book and audio format. With more than a dozen tools that can help us find peace in a difficult work situation or let go of painful events from the past, this book offers quick, easy-to-use practices and clear insights for exploring the transformative Radical Forgiveness process.

The audio edition brings you Tipping’s original adaptation of his award-winning book distilled into three CDs.

Topics covered include:

  • How to transform difficult emotions like anger, fear, and shame into unconditional love, gratitude, and peace
  • The five essential stages of Radical Forgiveness, and how they help us transcend the victim archetype and embrace the inherent perfection of life
  • The Radical Forgiveness Worksheet―an effective and easy-to-use tool for tapping into your “spiritual intelligence” to resolve grievances

“Radical Forgiveness is much more than the mere letting go of the past,” writes Colin. “It is the key to creating the life that we want and the world that we want.”

With Radical Forgiveness, he puts that key in our hands.

What did Jesus teach about church discipline
Church Discipline: Correcting Another Believer

Church Discipline: Correcting Another Believer

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Church discipline is something that we talk a great deal about but seldom do anything about it. What should we do when another Christian has sinned against us or caused us to stumble? What is the biblical principle of correcting another believer?

Discipline means taking corrective measures as punishment in order to maintain the good conduct of church members. But church discipline is not only a practice that is seldom made effective in our churches today, it is also a ministry that is often neglected.

Now, why is this so? Is it because we have grown weak and cold, and fear to act on our principles? Is it because we have all attained a state of perfection and no longer require it? Is it because our churches are afraid of losing church members? Or are we afraid that the church will be reduced if we punish sin?

Instructions for Church Discipline

The Lord Jesus gave several instructions in Matthew 18:15-17:

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

1. Keep the matter private.
Approach the person who sinned and speak with him or her alone. – Matthew 18:15

Always give the person the benefit of the doubt. It is possible that he or she does not even realize what he or she has done. Or, even if the act was deliberate, our own attitude of submission and love will help the person repent and apologize. Unless there are concerns for physical safety or propriety, it is best to go in person rather than talk over the phone.

By the way, don’t try to prove that the person is wrong and you are right. Your objective in approaching the person is not to show him his faults and win the argument. Rather, your goal is to get him to listen in order to win him back to the Lord. We do not want to win the argument and lose the person.

All Scriptures is given by inspiration of God

And the best way to convince someone of his sin is with the use of Scriptures. Your opinion does not matter; God’s Word is the authority. If the person who sinned knows and feels that you genuinely care for him, he will be more likely to listen and respond positively.

2. If he or she resists, take with you two or three brothers as witnesses. – Matthew 18:16

The witnesses you bring in are those who already know about the problem, which may include church leaders. The reason for this is to strengthen the reproof so as to cause the offender to realize the seriousness of the situation. Again, your goal is to bring the sinning person to repentance and restoration.

3. If he continues to harden his heart, inform the church. – Matthew 18:17a

In the passage mentioned, Jesus did not specify how this is done but other Scriptures indicate that this should be administered through the church leaders to whom God has given the authority over the church (Hebrews 13:17).

But before disclosing this matter to the congregation, the church leaders should make an effort to reach out to the offender and warn him that if he does not repent before a set period of time, his sin will be made public.

It is also important to note that before seeking to discipline a member, the church assembly should be at its best spiritually. This is because when a church disciplines a member, a church is actually examining and disciplining itself. We cannot discipline others if we ourselves are not disciplined.

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person.” – 1 Corinthians 5:11

Keeping Ties with the Offender

Once the matter has been made public, the church is given instructions on how to relate to the sinning person. In 1 Corinthians 5:11, Paul exhorts the church to not associate nor eat with the person. He says the same thing to the Thessalonians but then adds, “Yet do not count him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

This means that not all contact is forbidden. We must still communicate with the person to let him know that we love him and want him back in the fellowship. But we must make it clear that we do not condone what he is doing and we can’t accept him back until he genuinely repents.

Strengthen your faith with Christian jewelry, apparel, and wall decors.

4. If he insists on resisting, the next step is to expel him from the church assembly and treat him as an unbeliever. – Matthew 18:17b; 1 Corinthians 5:13

Just as children in the home need discipline, so God’s children in the church need discipline. If by the time the matter comes to the whole church and the offender has not yet changed and repented, then this person cannot be treated as a spiritual brother or sister. But he may or she can only be treated as one outside the church – not hated but not held in close fellowship.

I know there are a lot of questions as to what it really means to “expel” or “ex-communicate” a church member. We read about people being expelled by their churches for one reason or the other. And in almost all cases, people keep asking whether or not the expulsion was really done according to biblical principles. You may want to check out Jay E. Adams’ Handbook of Church Discipline.

5. Public restoration after genuine repentance.

Until the offender expresses genuine repentance, he or she should not be accepted back into the fellowship. But how do we know that the person is sincere? True repentance involves godly sorrow on the part of the offender (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

But there should be a specified period of time for the repentant person to prove his repentance is really genuine before putting him again into positions of ministry and leadership. It is also advisable that he undergoes some discipleship training to help him grow and avoid sin in the future.

The Purpose of Church Discipline

Church discipline is carried out for the spiritual restoration of fallen members as well as the consequent strengthening of the church. The church does not discipline its members for the purpose of throwing people out of the church or to feed the self-righteous pride of the leaders.

The purpose of church discipline is not to embarrass people or to exercise power and authority in an unbiblical manner. Instead, church discipline aims to restore a sinning believer to holiness and bring him back into fellowship with the assembly.

Conclusion

Discipline and discipling in the church community is never easy nor simple. But it is an important calling within the Christian community in order to help individuals mature. Discipline has to be done as it is vital not only for the (spiritual) health of the individual but also for the church community as a whole.

I would love to know your thoughts regarding this matter. Do you know of somebody who needed to undergo some kind of disciplinary measures as a result of their sins? Please share your views on how the church is to properly carry out discipline among members who are sinning persistently in the comment section below.

Recommended Resource:

Handbook of Church Discipline: A Right and Privilege of Every Church Member – eBook
By Jay E. Adams

This is a handbook for pastors, elders, and all Christians who want to see how Scripture presents the process of discipline that should operate in the Christian community.

It was written in response to the various concerns that threaten to tear apart marriages, families, friendships, and congregations—concerns that call for a biblical approach to discipline that can heal fractures, restore right relationships, and ensure the health of the church.

Developed around the five corrective steps found especially in Matthew 18: 15-17, this book helps church leaders deal with the sorts of problems that require the church’s disciplinary response. Charting a course that combines discernment with appropriate action, this simple, readable handbook can have a profound effect on the community of believers.

Lessons from Daniel 3
Lessons from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Lessons from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

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The 3rd chapter of Daniel which centers on the story of Daniel’s 3 best buddies Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is a well-known and well-loved chapter in the Bible. Who does not know how these three Jewish men were cast into the fiery furnace and came out alive? But more importantly, what lessons can we learn from their experience?

Summary of Daniel Chapter 3

In Daniel 3:1-7, we read how King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, set it up in the plain of Dura in Babylon and commanded everyone to fall down and worship the image upon hearing the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music. And anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Prior to this, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a great image that is awesome in form and whose splendor was excellent, standing before him (Daniel 2:31-35). Could this have something to do with why he set up an image for everyone to bow down to and worship?

We’re not sure how much time elapsed between the night Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about the metallic image and the day he commanded the people to fall down before the golden image that he had made. Some believe that the event described in Daniel chapter 3 might have occurred 20 years after the promotion of Daniel and his friends, about the time Jerusalem was finally destroyed (586 BC).

So it happened that when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up, except 3 Jewish men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to obey the king’s order; they stood tall in that great crowd when everybody else bowed low (Daniel 3:7-12).

The Golden Image of King Nebuchadnezzar

When King Nebuchadnezzar learned about it, he became furious and asked for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. The king, who had appointed these men to their high positions, valued their service (Daniel 1:18-20). Realizing that his reputation was at stake, he gave them a second chance in the presence of everyone.

King Nebuchadnezzar instructed the orchestra to play once more and if they bowed down, the matter would be forgiven and forgotten. However, the three men refused to do so and as a result; they were thrown into the blazing furnace that was heated 7 times more than it was usually heated (Daniel 3:13-20).

But God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the blazing furnace to the astonishment of the king. When they came out of the fire, Nebuchadnezzar and all the high officers, officials and governors crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” – Daniel 3:28

Then the king praised the God of the Jews and made a decree that anyone who speaks against Him shall be cut in pieces and their houses will be turned into an ash heap. The king also promoted them to even higher positions in the province of Babylon (Daniel 3:24-30).

Learning from the Three Jewish Men

What important lessons can we learn from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

1. Place your faith only in the true and living God and in His Word.

The assembly of worshipers in Daniel 3:7 who bowed to the ground and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up can be likened to the people in today’s world who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. They blindly follow the crowd and are concerned only with survival. They will do almost anything to escape danger and death, even to the point of selling themselves into slavery to men who promote empty myths.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the golden statue because their faith was in the true and living God. Knowing the history of their ancestors, they were confident that God was in control and they had nothing to fear.

These three Jewish men knew the Law of God – “You shall have no other gods before me ….. You shall not bow down to them nor worship them” (Exodus 20:3, 5). They knew that bowing before the image even once, regardless of the excuse they might have given, would have destroyed their witness and broken their fellowship with God.

“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.” – Mark 13:9

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not concerned about themselves, nor were they afraid of the fury of the king. They were only concerned about obeying God and giving a faithful witness to all who were watching and listening. So by one act of faith, they became witnesses of the true and living God to the entire Babylonian Empire.

Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds

In the same way, when Christians are being persecuted for their faith, they should take that as an opportunity to tell others about Jesus. As one theologian said, “Times of adversity are usually times of opportunity.”

2. Be a man or woman of faith but not of presumption.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not affirm that God would deliver them, which would have been presumption because they didn’t know what God’s will for their situation was. Instead, they stated that their God was able to deliver them, but even if He didn’t, they still wouldn’t bow down and worship the king’s golden image (Daniel 3:16-18).

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set us.” – Daniel 3:17-18

Perhaps you feel convicted to pray for somebody who’s suffering from a terminal illness and you claimed by faith that God would heal that person. Know that God always rewards faith but He doesn’t always step in to perform special miracles. Not everyone who prays for healing gets healed, but the Lord always gives strength to bear with the pain and grace to face death without fear.

*Related Article: Why does God not Heal Everyone?

The three Jewish men believed that God could deliver them, but they would still trust Him even if He didn’t. Christians must remain faithful to God even if He doesn’t answer their prayers according to their expectations. That is how faith is supposed to operate in the life of someone who claims to be a follower of Christ (Hebrews 3:17-19).

3. Civil disobedience is only permissible in certain instances.

Submission to authority is a principle that must never be put aside and God is the ultimate authority. As such, He has ordained other authorities under Him to which we must submit, including human government. The Bible says that to oppose these authorities is to oppose God (Romans 13:1-2).

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” – Romans 13:1

But Jesus taught us that there will be times when civil disobedience is permissible. When we find ourselves in a position wherein we must choose to either obey God or men, then we must obey God and disobey men (Acts 5:29). If our obedience to man’s laws would result in our disobedience to God’s laws, we must obey God by disobeying men.

The decree of King Nebuchadnezzar to bow down to the golden image is one instance where civil disobedience is allowed because it was clearly in violation of God’s law. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, obedience to the king’s command would have required them to commit the sin of idolatry.

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.” – Acts 5:29

But even when God requires us to disobey human law, we must do so in a submissive manner. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego disobeyed the king’s command but they remained respectful. We may dislike our government leaders because the laws they are imposing go against God’s will. But we should not encourage others to join us, stage a protest or seek to overthrow them. Instead, we must bring the matter to God and submit to Him as the ultimate authority.

4. God is our Deliverer.

This story is really about deliverance. King Nebuchadnezzar expected everyone in Babylon, including the Jews, to fall down before his idol because he believed he was the only one who could deliver or destroy them. This is apparent when he asked the 3 Jewish men, “And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands” (Daniel 3:15)? To this, he later answered, “There is no God who can deliver like this” (Daniel 3: 29).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that the God who delivered them from Egyptian bondage and forbade His people to worship idols is their Deliverer not only from the blazing furnace but also from Babylonian captivity. They did not have to make any defense to the king when they were asked to explain their refusal to bow to the golden image.

“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:10-11

And God accomplished their deliverance. God did not only deliver them from the fire, He delivered them through the fire. The fire had not harmed their bodies, not a single hair of their heads singed, nor were their garments affected and there was no smell of fire on them (Daniel 3:27). Their deliverance was complete!

*Read here: What does John 3:16 teach about salvation?

God’s deliverance for Christians is just like what is described in Daniel 3. Having been delivered does not mean that we are spared from all sufferings and trials, but it is a deliverance as a result of God Himself experiencing the fire. In the same way that God was present with the 3 Jewish men as the 4th person in the furnace, Christ has endured the wrath of God in our place.

“Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke.” – Daniel 3:27

Believers are delivered from the wrath of God because His Son, Jesus Christ, suffered in our place. Our deliverance has been accomplished on the cross of Calvary. We may not be able to fully grasp the extent of the deliverance that we have in Christ or fathom the totality of God’s deliverance for us now, but His deliverance is complete.

Conclusion

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is a reminder for us of the prophecies found in Revelation, especially chapters 13 and 14. One day, a world leader (Beast) like King Nebuchadnezzar will arise and will have an image of himself constructed. He will force all the people in the world to worship his image.

Those who obey will be given a mark on their forehead or their hand, and this special mark will be their passport to stay alive and do business. Anyone who refuses to obey will be persecuted and killed. But the Lord will preserve for Himself 144,000 Jews whom the Beast will not be able to touch, and they will come out of the Great Tribulation to reign together with the Messiah for a thousand years.

Standing firm to the end

As for the believers in Christ, expect the furnace of opposition to be heated 7 times hotter and the pressure to conform (to the world) to grow stronger as we move forward to the end of the age. We need a great deal of prayers and grace; and we need the same faith and courage that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had in order to stand tall for Christ while others are bowing their knees to the god of this world.

The importance of Bible Prophecy
Reasons to Study Bible Prophecy

Reasons to Study Bible Prophecy

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If you love to study the Bible, then you must also love to study Bible prophecy. Do you know that approximately 1/3 of the Bible was prophetic at the time that it was written? The Bible is a book of prophecy; it contains about a thousand prophecies, of which about five hundred have already been fulfilled down to the smallest detail.

And with a proven track record of 100% accuracy with five hundred prophecies, we can be confident that the remaining five hundred unfulfilled prophecies will also come to pass at the appointed time.

But other than knowing that the remaining yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies will happen, what other good reasons do Christians have for wanting to study Bible prophecy? While many reasons could be given for gaining a deeper understanding of biblical prophecy, we will look at these 7 Key Reasons that stand out.

1) The Subject of Prophecy is Jesus Christ

Prophecy begins and ends in the person and works of the Savior. In Genesis 3:15, where the very first prophecy in the Bible was given, a Deliverer is promised to crush the head of the serpent. Enoch’s ancient prophecy which is recorded in Jude 1:14-15 speaks of the second coming of Christ. And Revelation 19:10 tells us that “the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with prophecies that ultimately point in some way to the Savior. Below are some of the ways Jesus is revealed in prophecy:

Jesus is the coming Kinga. The Passover Lamb – Exodus 12; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7

b. The Son of Man – Daniel 7:13

c. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6

d. The star from Jacob – Numbers 24:17

e. The resurrection and the life – John 11:25-27

f. A man of sorrows – Isaiah 53:3

g. The coming king – Revelation 19

Jesus did not fulfill one, or two or three of the more than 100 distinct “First Coming” prophecies about the Messiah; He fulfilled every single one of them. Studying Bible prophecy is vital because its very essence gives witness to Jesus the Messiah.

2) Prophecy Gives Us a Proper Perspective in Life and Provides Hope for the Future

Bible prophecy is important because it tells us the end of the story. Just as our world had a definite beginning in Genesis 1:1, it will also have an ending. This world will not continue forever through infinite cycles of history. We know from Bible prophecy that there’s a consummation of human history and this present world.

There is no way to understand fully much of what’s going on in our present-day and time apart from the detailed prophecies contained in the Bible. We do not have to worry, panic or get scared because, in light of Bible prophecy, they all make sense.

The rapture of the Church

As Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries always quotes by the end of her program, “Things are not falling apart, they are falling into place.” And these events are all leading up to one big thing – the return of Jesus Christ.

Prophecy assures us that Jesus is coming back, that He will either resurrect or rapture us, and that He will take us to live forever with Him and the Father. Knowing this truth gives us meaning, perspective and purpose and helps us embrace hope in life.

3) Prophecy is a Major Part of Divine Revelation

I mentioned earlier that prophecy constitutes nearly a third of the Bible. In Bible study, there’s a principle known as the “Law of Proportion.” This law simply means that you can discern the importance of a subject in Scripture by how much attention is devoted to it.

Consider the following statistics: (Reference: The End by Mark Hitchcock)

a. Percent of the Whole Bible that is Prophecy ………………………………………….. 27%

b. Number of Separate Prophetic Topics in the Bible ………………………………….. 737

c. Number of Predictions in the Old Testament ………………………………………….. 1,239

d. Number of Old Testament verses that contain predictions ………………………  6,641 out of 23,210

e. Percent of the Old Testament that is Prophecy ……………………………………….. 28.5%

f. Number of Predictions in the New Testament …………………………………………. 578

g. Number of New Testament verses that contain predictions …………………….. 1,711 out of 7,914

h. Percent of the New Testament that is Prophecy …………………………………….. 21.5%

i. Number of Verses in the Bible ……………………………………………………………… 31,124

Consider these facts:

Of the 333 prophecies concerning Christ, only 109 were fulfilled by His first coming, leaving 224 yet to be fulfilled in the Second Coming.

  • There are over 300 references to the Lord’s coming in the 260 chapters of the New Testament, that’s one out of every 30 verses.
  • Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books mention the Lord’s coming.
  • Jesus refers to His second coming at least 21 times.
  • 1,527 Old Testament passages refer to the Second Coming.
  • For every time the Bible mentions the first coming, the Second Coming is mentioned 8 times.
  • People are exhorted to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ over 50 times.

Applying the Law of Proportion, biblical prophecy warrants serious study. To ignore or neglect it is to cast dishonor upon divine revelation. Moreover, if the prophecies were not in the Bible, the remainder of the Book would be meaningless.

4) A prophecy is a Key Tool for Evangelism

I was amazed to learn that the first Christian book many unbelievers read is a book on Bible prophecy. And this should not surprise us because Bible prophecy fascinates everyone – even unbelievers.

Most people have the same basic questions about the future. What’s going to happen to the world? When will the world end? Will the human race survive in the future? Is Jesus really coming back? Is there life after death? Are heaven and hell real?

What does the Bible say about the end of the world?

People want answers to these questions and the Bible has them. Christians can and should use this knowledge to share the Gospel with others as God opens the door of opportunity.

5) Prophecy Helps Protect People from Heresy

Do you notice how almost every book in the New Testament contains at least 1 section that addresses false teaching? You may want to look at some of the more notable sections such as 2 Corinthians 10-12; Philippians 3; 2 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

There are even cases where the whole book is devoted almost entirely to combating false teaching and the corrupt lifestyle it produces (Colossians; Galatians; 1 Timothy; Jude and 2 Peter).

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly  bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring in on themselves swift destruction.” – 2 Peter 2:1

From the earliest days of Christianity, the true teachings of the church have been attacked and corrupted by false teachers. In 2 Thessalonians 2, the apostle Paul corrects false teaching that the Day of the Lord has already come. In 2 Peter 3, a group of scoffers took the false teaching in another direction; mocking the idea that Jesus was coming again.

The same kind of speculative errors has continued throughout church history in the likes of William Miller, Harold Camping and the JW’s who all made failed predictions about the rapture and the return of Christ.

Taking the time to study the Scriptures and having an accurate understanding of Bible prophecy will protect God’s people from false teachings and from those who misuse it.

6) Fulfilled Prophecies Prove the Truth of God’s Word

No other religious book has ever been written that contains so much prophecy as the Bible. Prophecy scholar John Walvoord said the Bible contains about one thousand prophecies of which about five hundred have already been fulfilled. This is absolute proof that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Just as Bible prophecy establishes that God is the One true God, it also proves that God’s Word is true and that we can put our faith in what it teaches. And we’re not just talking of general prophecies about the future but very specific prophecies.

Below are some of the fulfilled Bible prophecies: (Reference: The End by Mark Hitchcock)

a. Four Great World Empires in Succession

In Daniel 2 & 7, the prophet Daniel (around 530 BC) predicted that there would be 4 great Gentile powers that would rule the world in succession: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Well, there have been four, and only four, world empires. Though others have tried since the fall of the Roman Empire, they all failed.

b. The 70-Year Babylonian Captivity

The prophet Jeremiah (627 – 582 BC) prophesied that the wicked people of Judah would be taken captive by the Babylonians and that their captivity would last for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:10-11; Jeremiah 29:10).

This specific prophecy was given decades before it took place. The people were taken into captivity in 605 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and were allowed only to return to Judah in 538 BC.

c. The Fall of Nineveh

God revealed an amazing prophecy to Nahum between 650 and 640 BC. God showed him in detail how the great city of Nineveh, which is the capital of the Assyrian Empire, would be destroyed. History records that in 612 BC this was fulfilled. The Babylonians and Medes invaded, plundered, and utterly destroyed the powerful city of Nineveh.

d. King Cyrus of Persia

During the Golden Age of the Hebrew prophets, around 700 BC, the prophet Isaiah in his writings identified a Medo-Persian king by the name of “Cyrus.” But Cyrus didn’t come into power for nearly 150 years (Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1).

Isaiah goes on to predict in Isaiah 45:2-6 and Isaiah 44:28 that Cyrus would conquer Babylon, restore the Jewish people to their land, rebuild Jerusalem and restore the Temple. All of this was completely fulfilled about 160 years later (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-11).


7) Prophecy Motivates us to Live Godly Lives

Charles Dyer, a prophecy expert, emphasizes the practical purpose of Bible prophecy which is this:

“God gave prophecy to change our hearts, not to fill our heads with knowledge. God never predicted future events just to satisfy our curiosity about the future. Every time God announces events that are future, He includes with His predictions practical applications to life. God’s announcements about the future carry with them specific advice for the ‘here and now.’”

Christians should not treat prophecy as a purely intellectual pursuit with no practical applications. The prophecy was not given only to stir our imagination or capture our attention. God intended prophecy to change our attitudes and actions so they will be more in line with His Word and His character.

Conclusion

There have been oppositions, both aggressive and passive, to the study and teaching of prophecy as a result of the failed predictions of some date-setters and fanatics whose only intentions were to get crowds.

But Bible prophecy should not be shunned merely because of the discredited teachings of some cults and self-proclaimed prophets who have distorted the Word of God to serve their own purposes.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (including prophecies), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

What about you, what’s your reason for wanting to study Bible prophecy? Please share your insights by leaving a comment.

*Recommended Resource:

The Amazing Claims of Bible Prophecy: What You Need to Know in These Uncertain Times – eBook
By Mark Hitchcock

The Christian's Guide to Investing
The Biblical Principles of Investing

The Biblical Principles of Investing

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We know that the Bible is full of wisdom on topics such as marriage, parenting, faith and many others. What about in the area of financial management? Does the Bible have anything to say about how we should handle the blessings that God has entrusted to us?

Although the Bible does not address all the specifics of finances and it does not directly relate to the stock market or real estate investments, it does provide broad principles and at times specific instructions which can be applied to this area.

These biblical principles of investing will help Christians invest wisely while maintaining ethical and moral standards that are in line with the core beliefs of Christianity.

What does the Bible Say about Investing?The Christian's Guide to Investing

The idea that you can invest biblically often brings up some misunderstandings among Christians and non-Christians alike. Sadly, these misunderstandings stem from the common misconception that investing is about hoarding money for the sole purpose of watching it grow.

Investing is a way of multiplying the wealth God has entrusted to us not only to provide for our current and future needs but also to impact and further God’s work on earth.

Investing in the biblical sense is about being good stewards or caretakers of the blessings that we have been given. We read in Matthew 25:14-28 how God commended the stewards for multiplying their talents. God called them “faithful” and as a reward, He entrusted them with more talents.

The Christian’s Guide to Investing

1) Pay off your debts before investing.

While the Bible does not strictly prohibit debt, it characterizes debt as a form of bondage. The Bible warns us against the dangers of indebtedness as the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7

Romans 13:8 also exhort us to “owe no one anything except for the continuing debt to love one another.” Although some godly Christians believe that this phrase prohibits all borrowing, almost if not all Bible commentators agree that Paul isn’t forbidding all debt. Rather, he’s saying that we must pay our debts and other financial obligations.

You might get all excited to hear your friend tell you how her investments are doing well; that she is earning passive income through them. But before you jump in, make sure you have eliminated all consumer debts. Because the money you save on interest by not having any debt is better than any return you could get by investing your money elsewhere.

2) Before you begin investing, you should already have an emergency fund.

Until you have built your emergency fund, you need not attempt other kinds of investments such as stocks, mutual funds, bonds, gold, etc. The purpose of an emergency fund is to meet unexpected and unpredictable needs which could arise.

How much should you have in your emergency fund? It depends on your financial circumstances, but most financial advisors suggest 3 to 6 months of your living expenses. This means if you need $2,000 a month to cover your family’s needs, then you need $6,000 to $12,000.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provision in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8 (NIV)

Because an emergency can strike at any time, your emergency fund should be invested in a safe, liquid investment, from which you can easily withdraw funds when needed, without penalty or loss of interest, such as money market fund. Or you can just keep it in a savings account separate from your regular savings.

3) Pray and ask God to guide you.

Before you start investing, take time to pray and ask God to guide you as the steward of His finances. Always remember that it is God’s wealth you are investing, not yours. And as God’s managers, He will hold us responsible for deciding how to invest His property. So consult God through prayer, meditation and studying the Scriptures.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5

You must also seek investment counsel. Understand that you’re not an expert at investing money, but you are competing head-to-head with those who are. The way to become expert at anything is to learn from and train under the one you believe to be an expert.

“No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.” – Proverbs 15:22 

But you should seek counsel only from believers who will help keep you from failing to follow biblical financial wisdom. There are many advisers who are experts in all areas of investing, but who might not look at things from a biblical perspective. So learn to distinguish biblical advice from plain investment advice.

4) Never invest in anything you do not understand.

This is Warren Buffet’s number 1 rule in investing. When you invest in things you do not understand, you may end up losing all of your life’s savings. That’s why it is always best to do your “homework” because knowledge is power, and knowledge is the key to success in investing.

“Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” – Proverbs 24:3-4

So if you’re considering investing in stocks, research the companies you want to buy and until you understand them, you may go for mutual funds, especially index funds.

*Related Topic: Basic Principles of Investing for Beginners

5) Diversify your investments.

Diversification, which is the practice of spreading your investment around different types of assets and securities to minimize the risk of your portfolio’s risk and volatility over time, is the key to the long-term stability and success of your investments.

Nobody really knows what will happen today or tomorrow, in our lives or in the stock market. So it is best to diversify your holdings in order to protect your investments and ensure that you can achieve your financial goals while still getting a goodnight’s rest.

“Send your grain across the seas and in time, profits will flow back to you. 2 But divide your investment among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.” – Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (NLT)

Maybe you have heard this verse interpreted as an instruction to give to those in need. But if you read from verses 1 through 6, it seems to clearly teach the wisdom of spreading your risk in investing.

You may be surprised to read King Solomon offering financial counsel as he nears the end of Ecclesiastes. But accordingly, Solomon was deeply involved in international trades with merchants. And just like today, one of the main trade commodities was grain.

The merchants of Solomon’s day would load their grains on ships and send them off. But instead of loading all of their grains in just one ship, he tells his merchants to put them in several ships and send them out in a diversified way so that if one of the ships should sink, he would not lose everything.

“Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another – or maybe both.” – Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NLT)

It’s the same thing in investing. King Solomon counsels investors to “divide their investments between 7 or 8 ships” so that if disaster strikes, they won’t lose everything. Yes, there are risks that come with investing but you should not be afraid to take some risks. Make investments and enter into business, but use the principle of diversification.

6) Never invest based on greed and avoid get-rich-quick schemes.

One of the major pitfalls in learning to invest is the temptation to get our eyes off of the main goal in the Christian life – storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20), as one can easily fall into the trap of wanting to get rich.

Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” – Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Day trading, which is the process of buying and selling stocks even within the same day, is a recipe for disaster. You may have heard some stories of someone who hit it big by doing this. But there are also thousands of stories of people who lost it all doing this. Investing requires patience; it implies waiting on God and trusting Him with the results.

God’s wisdom on building wealth is gathering money little by little, which is the opposite of chasing fantasies. And that is why “overnight” get-rich-quick schemes should always be avoided. Remember that proper investments will take time to grow and yield an income. Any investment that guarantees high return could well be a scam and should raise a red flag on the part of the investor.

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” – Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)

Should you borrow money to invest? Absolutely not! One of the things that hasten the process of going into poverty is borrowed money. That’s right! The number 1 contributing factor to the loss of wealth is borrowed money. While there is no commandment that prohibits borrowing, it is a sin to borrow with a covetous heart and a get-rich-quick motive.

7) Never invest money that you cannot afford to lose.

How much money should you invest? Because you can never exactly predict what the value of your investment will be in the coming years, the kind of money you should put in is the money you won’t be needing today, tomorrow, next year or even 5 to 10 years from now.

The biggest problem that can arise in investing is when your personal situation forces you to suddenly sell your investments for cash when the market is down. This is why you first need to build your emergency fund to cover for any unexpected expenses that may arise.

Conclusion

God is not against prosperity. There are so many biblical characters that God has blessed and prospered. But in return, you must be faithful to use your resources to honor God. If you desire to be entrusted with greater riches, God needs to know that you can be faithful with a few.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” – Luke 16:10-11 (NIV)

God alone knows the future. But when you invest, you ought to use your brain, make plans, study the situation, seek wise counsel, take all factors into consideration, do the best you can and leave the results to God. In short, invest wisely; apply the biblical principles of investing and let God take care of the future.

And always remember that your wealth and the wealth of the nations all belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1).

What does the Bible say about fasting
The Biblical Meaning of Fasting

The Biblical Meaning of Fasting

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Ramadan has just ended and so is the fasting period for Muslims. Fasting during the daylight hours of the Ramadan month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and therefore considered to be of utmost importance for everyone who claims to be a real Muslim. You cannot be a Muslim if you do not fast during Ramadan.

The question that many Muslims ask is: Do Christians fast? The truth of the matter is, many Christians do fast. Although we find no explicit command in the New Testament for Christians to fast, there are indications that fasting was a normal practice in the Old Testament and even during the time of Jesus. So why do Christians fast if the Bible does not command them to? What is the biblical meaning of fasting?

Fasting Defined

The word fast in the Bible is from the Hebrew word sum, which means “to cover” the mouth or from the Greek word nesteu, meaning “to abstain.”

Although fasting is generally defined as going without food and/or drink for at least a day or more, fasting in the biblical sense is a spiritual discipline that is defined as a voluntary abstinence from or the renunciation of anything that is in itself good, such as food and drinks, with the purpose of realigning one’s heart desires according to the will of God in their lives; it is also to intensify one’s expression of needs for something greater.

Fasting in the New Testament

First, let me just say that fasting does not have the same place in Christianity that it does in Islam. For a Muslim, not fasting during Ramadan jeopardizes his ability to be with Allah in paradise. In Christianity, fasting or not fasting has no bearing with one’s salvation, because salvation (or eternal life), is received by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What does the Bible have to say about fasting? More importantly, what was Jesus’ stand with regards to fasting? In the New Testament, the first mention of fasting is in Luke 2:37 wherein a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, is said to have never left the temple. Instead, she stayed there day and night worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

 “And this woman (Anna) was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” – Luke 2:37

In this instance, fasting is said to be one way of serving God. There is no indication whatsoever that Anna was required to do this. Her fasting and prayer seemed to have been prompted by a felt need. Perhaps, Anna was so burdened at the coming of the Messiah that she spontaneously devoted much of her time to fasting and prayer.

Jesus also fasted when He was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-4; Mark 1:12-13). For 40 days, while Jesus was under tumultuous attack by Satan and in the presence of wild beasts, He ate nothing (Luke 4:2). But was this a fast? Although Matthew used the word fasting, Luke didn’t.

Matthew used the aorist participle nhsteuvsa, (“had fasted” – Matthew 4:2), which accordingly is used throughout the New Testament to indicate “abstinence for religious purposes.” The indication in Matthew is that Jesus was engaged in a religious fast for 40 days; it was not just a mere exercise of self-denial.

Just like the prophets in the Old Testament did, Jesus fasted in times of intense spiritual needs. Therefore one can say with relative certainty that fasting was a key element in Jesus’ spiritual journey.

Jesus’ Teaching on Fasting

As I said earlier, fasting does not have the same place in Christianity the way it does in Islam. We find no explicit command to fast in the New Testament. However, there are indications that it was normal and that Jesus expected His disciples to fast.

In Matthew 6:16-17, Jesus says, “And when you fast,” not, “If you fast,” which seems to indicate that He expected His followers to be fasting. Jesus was not teaching on whether we should fast or not. He is assuming we will fast and is teaching us how to do it, and especially how not to do it.

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” – Matthew 6:16

This is even clearer when Jesus insisted in the passage that our fasting should not be for the sake of impressing other people. Instead, we should keep other people from knowing that we are fasting by washing our face and combing our hair. Jesus warns us of the spiritual danger of hypocritical fasting (Matthew 6:16).

Hypocritical Fasting

Hypocrisy is trying to look on the outside different from who you really are on the inside. Jesus calls them hypocrites because they decide to fast, but instead of concealing that they are fasting they made it plain that they are fasting. To appear humble and sorrowful, these hypocrites allowed their hair to become disheveled, poured ashes on their heads, and did not wash their faces.

Like prayer and alms giving, fasting was reduced to a hypocritical system. In response to all this hypocrisy, Jesus said, “They have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:16). In other words, Jesus is saying that if that is the reward you’re aiming at in fasting, that is what you will get and that will be all you get.

Proper Way of Fasting

What then is the kind of fasting that would meet God’s approval? In Matthew 6:27-18, Jesus tells His followers how He wants fasting to be done. They were to anoint their heads and wash their faces. In the Jewish culture, anointing one’s head and washing one’s face were reserved for joyous occasion; it’s not done for daily hygiene or cosmetic reasons.

Christians are taught to fast without drawing attention to themselves. When we are fasting, we must fix our hair and wash our face so people will not know that we are fasting. If you are really fasting for God then nobody else needs to know. Our goal is to be seen by God not man.

It’s easy to do religious things if other people are watching – praying, reading the Bible, going to church, etc. And when they see us doing all these, they may be inspired to do the same. So it’s not really all that bad.

“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.  ” – Matthew 6:17

But fasting for Christians should be radically focused on God. Fasting means “a heart hunger for God.” The heart that motivates fasting is supposed to be a heart for God. In that sense, fasting is a great test and confirmation of God’s reality in the life of a Christian since in many situations God is the only one who knows you’re fasting.

If God is not real to you, it will be miserable to endure something as difficult as fasting when God is the only One who knows what you’re experiencing. But the last verse of the passage says, “Your Father who is in a secret place and who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:18). What could be the reward that Jesus promises from the Father? Whatever that is, we know that it will be for your joy and for His glory.

How Long Should You Fast?

There’s not a set length of time that makes Christian fasting acceptable. In Bible times, fasts generally last for a day (Judges 20:26). Occasionally, fasts lasted for 3 days (Esther 4:16) or even 7 days (1 Samuel 31:13). On three occasions, fasts lasted 40 days: when Moses received the 10 commandments (Exodus 34:28), when Elijah encountered God (1 Kings 19:8) and when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4).

The duration of your fast depends on the Lord’s conviction. I believe that fasting is a covenant between the believer and God, and it doesn’t matter how long you will do it. What’s important is that you’re doing it with the right motives. You can go without food for 40 days for all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, you can skip a single meal or two, because you truly want to honor God.

Fasting in Secret?

Is Jesus saying that you have done wrong if people know you’re fasting? Not at all! What He’s saying is that it is wrong to fast for the purpose of impressing people. The issue here is your motive for fasting and not who knows about it or what they think about it. Are you doing it for God or for people?

We know from the book of Acts that fasting is a spiritual discipline which was practiced widely by the early church (Acts 13:2-3; Acts 14:23). We also know that communal fasting was practiced, that is, a group of Christians fasted together for a particular reason. The point here is that even if you’re fasting with other people you must keep your fasting a personal thing between you and God only. That way, your motives won’t be in question.

I don’t think it’s wrong for a Christian to tell someone that he or she is fasting, especially when they ask why he/she is not eating. However, it is important that this act of humility is done for God, not for others to know and see. Why are you fasting? What’s your motive? It’s important to guard our motives in fasting because the reason we fast will determine how it will affect our lives.

Conclusion

The Word of God does not specifically command believers to fast but prayer and fasting is definitely something that Christians should be doing. Why? Because Jesus expects us to do it. The purpose of fasting is to take our eyes off the things of this world in order to focus our thoughts on God.

While fasting is meant to be a private act between the believer and God and to draw us closer to God, at the same time it should ultimately lead us to feed those who are hungry, help the oppressed, give clothes to those who are in need and provide shelter for those who have none (Isaiah 58:6-7).

*Recommended Resource:

The Power of Prayer and Fasting – eBook By Ronnie W. Floyd

Publisher’s Description

The hand-in-hand spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting is not a gimmick or a spiritual fad, although its neglect in recent decades makes it a new discovery for many Christians. Instead, as author Ronnie Floyd explains, prayer and fasting is a Scripture-ordained act of obedience—a means of humbling ourselves before God, drawing closer to Him, and making room for Him to speak and act in our lives.
This newly revised and updated edition of The Power of Prayer and Fasting offers fascinating firsthand stories of the difference prayer and fasting has made in Floyd’s life and others, compelling explanations of how this discipline works in a Christian’s life, practical guidance for those who have never fasted before, and finally a stirring call to revival.