20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

Observation:

What is the purpose of salvation? This verse tells us clearly: it is so we should bear fruit to God. Paul compares our relationship to Jesus to a binding marriage contract. What is the purpose of this “marriage?” To bear fruit to God.

Application:

At Foursquare Convention tonight I was challenged to end the season of unfruitfulness and to believe that God will produce fruit through me—sharing Christ with others, furthering God’s kingdom, helping others.

If I’m not bearing fruit, I could have sin in my life that I need to get rid of. Just as Abraham was told he needed to undergo circumcision, I may need to cut away the spiritual “flesh”—sin I haven’t dealt with—before I can hope to be fruitful for God’s kingdom.

My deep, binding relationship with Jesus is only possible because God raised Jesus from the dead. The good news is that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, can work in me to produce fruit for the kingdom. That makes me hopeful!

Prayer:

Abba Father, show me any areas of the flesh that need to be cut off in order to be fruitful for you.

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Scripture Focus:

I Kings 11:4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Observation:

Solomon had it all—riches, wisdom, status, honor—but he didn’t finish well. 1 Kings records that when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God.

The problem didn’t start when Solomon was old. It started with him giving in to his weakness for women and his trust in alliances through marriage with other kings. He may have thought he could get away with disobeying God’s explicit command that a king should not acquire multiple wives, but he succumbed to pressure from his wives in the end and began to worship their gods.

Romans 6 says that we are slaves to that which we obey, whether sin leading to death or obedience to God, leading to righteousness. We only fool ourselves when we think we can get away with a little sin and still stay on track.

Application:

If I want to finish well I must choose my allegiance NOW. Romans 6 says I’m a slave to something, whether to sin or to God is my choice. My trifling with sin may not seem that significant today, but it can and will have an impact on my future, unless I repent and return my allegiance to God.

If I want to finish my life well, my allegiance must be to God today.

Prayer:

Abba Father, I want to finish well! Help me to be strong and make the right choices today.

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Scripture Focus:

2 Samuel 13:13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Matthew 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

Observation:

I see such a contrast between the story of David and Bathsheba and David’s reaction to Nathan the prophet found in 2 Samuel 12 and the Pharisees Jesus encountered in Matthew 23.

David sinned. The Pharisees sinned. When the prophet confronted David with his sin, David reacted with humility and sorrow, realizing that he had not just sinned against Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, but against God. When Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their sin, they remained stubborn and proud and thought themselves to be righteous.

Application:

We all sin. That’s a given. But how we respond to the person or word of God that confronts us with our sin is very telling. It’s the difference between a true child of God and someone who’s just pretending.

Prayer:

Oh, God—may I be like David. Tender of heart. Open to your rebuke. Willing to humble myself before you in sorrow for my sin.

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Scripture Focus:

Matthew 3:1–2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!:
vs 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father . . . vs 10 Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Observation:

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, became the prophet that prepared the way for the Messiah, Jesus. His message of preparation was “Repent!” This message wasn’t just for rank sinners. It was for the smugly religious as well. Notice how he says, “Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father . . .’” In other words, we’re in like flin. We’ve got it made. We’re part of the establishment.

Repentance isn’t true if there isn’t a change in my actions. “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

John speaks of the judgement day when “every tree which does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” God is serious about this repentance thing.

Application:

Repentance applies to all, including me today. What am I doing that I need to stop doing? What am I not doing that I should start doing? I want to stand before God on Judgement Day and have him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Prayer:

Abba Father, open my eyes to see the sin in my life. Give me zero tolerance for it once I see it, and help me bear fruit worthy of repentance. Amen.

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Scripture Focus:

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee sexual immorality.

Observation:

Sexual sin is running rampant in the Christian community. Either we don’t know it’s wrong (Unlikely. Even unbelievers know it’s wrong) we don’t fear God (have a healthy respect for his judgment) or we’re stupid (we think we can get away with it this once).

The Bible says to flee sexual immorality. Run scared. The consequences are too grave.

Application:

Am I keeping my thoughts in check? Watching what I watch on TV? This is one of the Enemy’s chief tools to destroy lives and ministry. I must always be on my guard against it.

Prayer:

Father God, give me the grace to keep my thoughts and actions pure.

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Scripture Focus:

Joshua 7:10–12 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:11–13 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.
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Observation:

In the story of Achan in Joshua 7 and 8 we see that one man’s sin can wreak havoc on the entire nation. In this case it caused the death of 36 men in the Israeli army. Serious, indeed.

In I Corinthians Paul chastens the church for allowing someone living in blatant sexual sin to live as though there was no consequence. Paul uses the one bad apple analogy, only in Jewish terms: “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” His advice? Don’t keep company with people who call themselves Christians but live like the devil.

Application:

It’s to be expected that people outside of the family of God will be disobedient to God’s commands, but God expects those of us who belong to the family of God to be obedient. Does our desire to be “tolerant” make the church weak and ineffective, causing us to flee before the Enemy of our souls?

Taking action to “put away the evil person” from Christian fellowship may seem harsh, but it accomplishes two things: It keeps the church pure, and it may cause the brother to repent and return. (See 2 Corinthians 2 for the end of this story.)

And finally, do I tolerate sin in myself?

Prayer:

Father God, may I not be the one who sins and brings judgement on the church, and may I be willing to confront those who call themselves Christians, but live like the devil.

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Scripture Focus:

Numbers 32:23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.

Observation:

The phrase “Be sure your sin will find you out” is a well remembered phrase from childhood, but I didn’t remember where it came from. Lo and behold—here it is in Numbers! Numbers has been a surprising book to me this time through. I’ve been amazed at how much wisdom I’ve gleaned from it.

In this case, the principle is simple: I may think I’m doing something that no one will know about, or that won’t matter or be judged, but when I sin, I sin against God, and he sees everything, and brings everything to account.

Application:

It pays to be aware that I am never alone. Someone is always watching what I do, even if it’s only one Person. And what I do matters to Him.

Prayer:

Father God, help me live my life in such a way that it won’t matter if anyone finds out what I do, because I’m doing the right thing.

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