December 2009

Part 4

The Promise

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren”,
Luke 22:31-32.

This passage contains three promises we need to meditate upon and receive. The Lord Jesus told Peter; 1) his faith would not fail, 2) he, Peter, would return to the Lord, 3) and he, Peter, would be used in God’s service to strengthen his fellow believers.

By all human appearances, the disciple’s faith did fail. But aren’t we glad God does not look at us through human eyes! Our Father, God, looks upon and within the heart. Yes, Peter did deny knowing the Lord Jesus and the others fled in the face of persecution. The disciples had failed to prepare themselves through prayer, and, therefore, succumbed to fear. Jesus had commanded His disciples to, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”, Matthew 26:41. The faith of the disciples may have faltered, but it did not fail!

The Holy Spirit resides within every Christian, instilling an innate desire to faithfully live for God. We may get knocked down by the trials of life, but the Holy Spirit will lead us back. We find the following promises within Scripture. “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity”, Proverbs 24:16. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand”, Psalm 37:23-24. This should not be taken as a license to sin and live recklessly, but to encourage each Christian that when we stumble and fall, we need not stay down!

Jesus knew they would return to Him. The Lord used the word ‘when’, not ‘if’, in His statement concerning their returning to Him. The disciples, especially Peter, repented of their sins of prayerlessness and succumbing to fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and returned to their walk with God and closeness with the Lord Jesus (read John 21). Thankfully, the Lord does not wash His hands of us when we stumble. He picks us up!

In the twenty-first chapter of John, it appears that Peter and his fellow disciples were overcome by a shroud of shame and a mindset of non-usefulness to the Savior. All who have stumbled and faltered in their walk with God can relate. God has worked though only One perfect person and His name is Jesus. All others have had flaws! However, Jesus did not discard His disciples, but came and reminded them of their commission to be His witnesses and to disciple those who believe in Him through their testimonies and the preaching of God’s word.

When Christians learn from mistakes made and share those lessons with others, the hearers are strengthened. Jesus’ third promise to use Peter and the other disciples was fulfilled. Peter became the fearless preacher of the gospel of Jesus in Jerusalem and Apostle to the Jews. He and his fellow disciples chose to suffer persecution as followers of Jesus Christ rather than deny Him again. Most died a martyr’s death. Because of their faithfulness, we have the privilege of the gospel and a relationship with God.

Thank You, Lord, for not giving up on us when we stumble in our walk with You. Thank You for the privilege to serve You, although we are imperfect. Henceforth, help us rely upon You and prepare ourselves for spiritual battle through prayer.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

November 2009

Part 3

The Warning

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren”,
Luke 22:31-32.

Immediately, after Jesus warned Simon Peter of Satan’s request and the impending ‘sifting’, Jesus shared the encouraging truth that He had prayed for Peter and His disciples. Think about this wonderful truth for a moment. The Lord Himself prayed for His disciples. All of Jesus’ prayers were heard and answered. One reads what Jesus said at the tomb of Lazarus in John 11:41-42, “. . . Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And that You always hear Me. . . ..” The longest recorded prayer of the Savior is found in the Gospel of John. This seems to be the prayer Jesus prayed with and for His disciples prior to going to Gethsemane and the cross.

The contents of this prayer reveal what the Lord Jesus prayed and for whom He prayed.
First, He prayed for the redeemed of God, His followers; “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours”, John 17:9. The Lord’s desire is for all people to become His children and followers. But the honest truth is not everyone will, according to Matthew 7:13-14. However, Jesus prayed for those that will be His disciples. This is very encouraging to know that the Son of God prayed for His children.

Second, Jesus prayed for the security and protection of the disciples. Christ also asked for unity and togetherness among His followers as it was, and is, between He and the Heavenly Father. John 17:11b, “. . . keep them through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”

Third, Jesus asked for the disciples to be delivered from the evil one, Satan. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one”, John 17:15. This is not the first reference of this request. Read the example Jesus taught on how to pray, “. . . And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”, Matthew 6:13. The Lord never promised to spare us from problems and temptations, but He did pray we would be delivered from Satan and kept by the Father!

Fourth, Jesus prayed not only for Peter and His disciples then, but for His followers throughout all generations. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word”, John 17:20. This means us today!

Fifth, Jesus Christ prayed for the eternal security of all His followers. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world”, John 17:24. When resting upon the truths of God’s word, it is not difficult to believe that God the Son, Jesus, Who saves us, is also capable of keeping us saved! God is able! God is faithful! “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”, Hebrews 7:25. What a wonderful truth to know, Jesus prayed for Peter, the disciples, and is still praying for us today!

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayed for YOU!!

Thank You Lord, for Your faithful prayers and for keeping us from the evil one.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

October 2009

Part 2
The Warning

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren”,

Luke 22:31-32.

The Lord warned Simon very clearly of Satan’s desire and intent. The Scriptures warn of the enemy and destroyer of souls. In 1 Peter 5:8 one reads, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” In John 10:10, the Lord Jesus informed His listeners that Satan is a thief whose only purpose and desire is to kill, to steal, and to destroy. Our enemy is real! One of his greatest deceptive tactics is to convince men he does not exist, or that he is a friend and not a foe. Satan is the enemy of God, the work of God, the people of God, and all mankind. The Bible declares, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 6:12..

Satan had asked permission to “sift” Peter as wheat. We find a similar account in the first two chapters of the Book of Job. Satan must ask and receive permission from God before he “sifts” any child of God. Christians should find comfort in knowing that our God remains in control, sovereign, and nothing happens of which He is not aware. Many commentators agree the first pronoun ‘you’ in the Greek is in the plural form. Jesus’ warning embraced all the disciples. Everyone would do well to heed this warning.

Simon Peter was bold in his declaration to follow Jesus even to death. Peter, and the other disciples, were about to encounter a time of severe testing. The sifting of wheat separates the wheat from the chaff. The testing of the Christian separates the Christ-like qualities from the sinful. Satan’s goal was to prove Peter and the disciples fake, or apostates like Judas Iscariot. The Lord allows times of testing to make His followers aware their impurities and sins within, bringing them to repentance, and cleansing their hearts. Peter was clearly shown his heart of pride and how destructive pride can become. It was Peter who later acknowledged, “. . . be clothed with humility for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”, 1 Peter 5:5b. Read the insight of Peter concerning the trials of life: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ”, 1 Peter 1:6-7. Peter further admonishes his fellow Christians in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happen to you: but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

The Bible makes it clear the Christian life will not be easy. Jesus taught His disciples that they should take up their cross and follow Him. In John 16:33 Jesus gives this warning and word of comfort, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” God offers this comfort in 1 John4:4. “He (Holy Spirit) who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world.”

Lord, help us heed Your warning and rest in Your power to defeat our enemy!

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

September 2009

Part 1
The Man

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren”,

Luke 22:31-32.

Simon, “who is called Peter”, Matthew 10:2, was the first named apostle of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus changed the name of Simon to that of Peter, which means a ‘stone’, John 1:42. Peter held a prominent place as a leader among the twelve apostles. A relationship of intimacy grew between Peter and the Lord. Peter was among the three of Jesus’ closest disciples which consisted of Peter, James, and John.

Peter was never hesitant to speak what he thought. Sometimes he spoke boldly and correctly such as recorded in Matthew 16:16. Jesus acknowledges the truth of Peter’s confession of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God. Sometimes he spoke rashly, before thinking. Like the incident recorded in Matthew 16:21-23; when Peter rebuked Jesus for His prophesy of His pending death and resurrection.

When Jesus performed His many miracles, Peter was present. The mother-in-law of Peter was healed of a fever by Jesus. At the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter witnessed the glory of Christ. It was Peter who stepped out of the boat in faithful obedience and walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee!

During the public ministry of Jesus, Peter had experienced a multitude of miracles and a close intimacy with Christ Jesus. Peter was a leader, a disciple of Jesus, an apostle of Christ, a chosen man for the kingdom of God. It is easy to understand why Peter would become confident in his Christian life.

In the text verse, Jesus addressed Peter by his old name, Simon, and not by the name which meant “a stone”. Twice Jesus spoke the name of Simon which implied an earnest and somber tone of warning. When Jesus reverted back to addressing Peter by his old name, this could have been Jesus’ way of intensifying His rebuke of Peter’s fleshly overconfidence. The Scriptures warn us in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

The accounts of Scripture concerning the night before the betrayal of Jesus reveals the disciples, especially Peter, was sleeping when they should have been praying. Jesus warned, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”, Matthew 26:41.

You may be a leader among Christians, out in the front lines of the battle for the souls of men. Or you may be in the background quietly living your life for Christ. Regardless of your position, you, as a child of God, are an enemy of Satan. The devil will target you and attempt to trip you and cause you to fall into sin and out of fellowship with the Lord. If we allow ourselves to become too busy with work, or become preoccupied with other activities to pray, we will be powerless to resist the devils attacks. If we are not a people of prayer, we will fall! We may think we are strong enough, close enough to Jesus, used so greatly that we cannot fail, or we will never fall into sin and Satan’s snare, that we do not need to pray. So did Peter! We fail because we fail to pray!

May we be people of prayer; grant us the power to resist the devil, James 4:8.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

August 2009

Righteousness Lived Out

“If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices
righteousness is born of Him.”
1 John 2:29

God the Holy Spirit resides within every believer in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who enables the Christian to live as God desires. “He leads me in the path of righteousness for His names sake”, Psalm 23:3b. This does not mean the Christian is perfect and never makes mistakes or sins. It does mean the desire of the Christian is to live holy and upright according to God’s standard. The example and life of Jesus is the pattern. It is the life of Jesus the Holy Spirit desires to live out through the Christian.

This righteousness is learned by the believer as the Holy Spirit gives understanding through the Word of God, the Bible. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 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”, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Remember the definition of righteousness; holy and upright living in accordance to God’s standard. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word”, Psalm 119:9. Simply put, the Bible says do not steal, so do not steal! God says do not lie, so do not lie! Jesus commands us to love one another, so there is no room on the heart of Christians for hatred or prejudice! Jesus employs Christians to be witnesses to the lost world of the Gospel message of Jesus, the Redeemer of the repentant, so be a witness and share with others what Christ has done for you! The Scriptures state we should pray about everything, so stop worrying and prayerfully take your cares to the Father!

Our lives will bear witness of our relationship with Jesus according to our text in 1 John 2:29. If we are born of Him, we will live like Him. Yes, Christians will still sin and do wrong, but the habitual practice and pattern of their life will be a life of righteousness. If there is no desire for righteous, godly, and holy living, then you should examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith, 2 Corinthians 13:5

Righteousness is an essential element of the spiritual armor needed in the battle against evil and Satan. In Ephesians 6:14 the Christian is encouraged to “. . . put on the breastplate of righteousness.” This right living guards our hearts and minds and prevents the devil from weighting us down under the burden of condemnation. We read in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” In 2 Corinthians 6:3 and 7 one reads, “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. . . by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.”

A lifestyle of righteousness is essential if we desire to make an eternal impact in the lives of others and for the glory of God, our Father. What does it take to begin this relationship with Holy God? It takes “. . . repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ”, Acts 20:21

Holy Spirit, lead us in the path of righteousness for His names sake!

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

July 2009

Righteousness Offered

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Romans 10:4

Jesus Christ said “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”, Matthew 5:17. Jesus is the only person ever to live who completely adhered to the law of God. Jesus Christ never sinned, not one time! He lived a perfect life. Jesus lived holy and upright in accordance to God’s standard. This is the reason the Bible says “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness”. The Psalmist wrote “He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”, Psalm 24:5. God the Father offers the righteousness needed to enter into a relationship with Him and that which is required to enter into heaven. This righteousness comes through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The righteousness is imputed to those who, through faith, believe in the person, Jesus Christ. The Bible says “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believes in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”, Romans 10:9-10. Jesus vicariously suffered the horrific death on the cross, shedding His sinless blood to pay for the sin of all mankind on the cross. On the third day after Jesus Christ died and was buried, He arose from the dead. This validated His statement of Him being the resurrection and the life, John 11:25. His resurrection also declared Him to be the Son of God, Romans 1:4. Therefore, when any person repents of their sin, believes Jesus died and rose again to pay for their sin, by faith trusts Jesus completely calling on Him for forgiveness, the Bible says they shall be saved, Romans 10:13. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”, 2 Corinthians 5:21. God the Father is just in forgiving the repentant sinner because the debt of sin has been paid in full by His Son, Jesus Christ. The repentant sinner who trusts in Jesus Christ will stand before Holy God righteous and justified! Trust Him today!

July is the month Americans remember and celebrate the birth of this great nation. Christian Americans need to unite their prayers and efforts to bring this nation back to being “one nation under God”. In the Bible one reads, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”, Proverbs 14:34. For America to be a righteous nation, her people must be righteous! The only way for this to be is through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Lord, we repent of our sin as a nation. We confess we have pushed you out of our lives and society. The only time we call upon You is in a time of crisis. Help us come back to You as a people, Your people. America needs to be healed. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”, 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Learning to serve,

Robert Finley

June 2009

Righteousness Defined and Needed

“For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:20

In order for anyone to go to heaven they must be as righteous as God! In the text, Jesus is speaking about the most religious group alive at that time. Outwardly the Pharisees were unsurpassed in their efforts to be righteous. Yet, their righteousness was not good enough to secure their place in God’s heaven. In Matthew 23:28, Jesus describes the Pharisees, “Even you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

What is righteousness? What righteousness is God looking for? Righteousness is holy and upright living, in accordance to God’s standard! Read what is recorded in the Bible concerning the righteousness God is looking for. “And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us”, Deuteronomy 6:24-25; “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13. Notice the key words ‘all’, ‘then’, and ‘if’. These passages define God’s standard of righteousness.

The question now is, how are you doing? Take this simple test to see how you measure up to God’s standard of righteousness. Have you ever told a lie, whether it was big or small? Have you ever stolen anything, even taking a paper clip from you work place? Have you ever looked at someone and sexually lusted after them? If your answer was yes to any of these questions, you have broken God’s law. These are only three of many laws of God. The Scriptures inform us, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all”, James 2:10. One act of disobedience, one sin, regardless of how small we consider it to be, condemns us guilty before Holy God. According to the Bible our righteousness is not good enough, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags”, Isaiah 64:6. In Romans 3:10 and 6:23 we read our righteousness falls short of God’s standard, “There is none righteous, no, not one” . . . “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

If this was all the Bible said about righteousness and the possibility of anyone becoming righteous enough to enter into heaven, then we would all be left without any hope and headed to an eternity in hell. Thankfully, there is hope in the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greeks. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith”, Romans 1:16-17.

Lord, we are in desperate need of Your righteousness. Help us to understand this.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

May 2009

Different Theories of Creation

Throughout the ages of man there has hovered a satanic influence to create doubt within the minds of men toward the word of God. The enemy’s subtle attack upon the truth of creation is his attempt to destroy the very foundation upon which every Bible doctrine stands. In Psalm 11:3 one reads, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Humanism, a very dangerous and demonic religion, seeks to remove God from the creation equation and replace Him with human reasoning and logic. This philosophy strives to force the Bible to collaborate its theories instead of submitting to the truth recorded by God. Some of the theories of creation which have this goal are: the day-age theory, the gap theory, the revelation theory, and the evolution theory.

The day-age theory views the days recorded in Genesis, chapter one, not as literal twenty-four hour periods of time, but as ages, or vast periods of time. Men holding this view can comfortably insert the teaching of an old world. This view enables geologists the reconciliation between the existence and extinction of dinosaurs and the introduction of man.

The gap theory basically states there is an indefinite amount of time between the first two verses of Genesis, chapter one. During this time there was a creation which existed, became corrupted, and was destroyed. This left earth in a chaotic state “without form and void.” Those who adhere to this theory teach the remaining verses of chapter one as referring to God restoring the earth and repopulating it with man. Here again is an attempt to force the Bible to collaborate a man made and unproven timeline.

The revelation theory admits to literal twenty-four hour days, but these are days in Moses’ life. This theory teaches that God revealed to Moses in six days the truths about creation. During each of these days Moses recorded what God had revealed to him. This is a vain attempt to satisfy both the individual who demands a literal twenty-four hour day and the scientist who demands long periods of time for the earth to be formed.

The devastating evolution theory was made popular by Charles Darwin. Simply stated, everything in existence today evolved into being from a tiny speck which exploded or when two unidentifiable forces collided together. Satanically influenced unregenerate men promoted this deception. Evolution is now taught as fact and truth throughout schools today. It has been effective in robbing our young people of the purpose for which they were created. “The primary motivation for the energetic proclamation of the evolutionary theories is not the need to reveal scientific evidence, but the need to conceal and deny the existence of the Creator.”[1]

Taking God at His word when He states “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” will enable one to believe the rest of the Bible. One can trust God when He proclaims in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” There will be no problem when reading Revelation 21:1, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . .”

One can believe Jesus will save those who trust in Him!

Lord, help us to believe Your Word about creation so we can believe Your Word concerning Jesus and salvation.


Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

[1] Bill Sheffield, The Beginnings Under Attack, (Springfield, Missouri: 21st Century Press, 2003), 49.

April 2009

The Fall of Man

Genesis 3

It was another beautiful day in the garden and Eve was enjoying the splendid creations of God. As the serpent approached Eve in the garden she expressed no concern. However, on this day the serpent did not come alone. He had become a dreadful and deadly instrument in the hands of Satan, a wise and subtle enemy of God. Satan knew he could not dethrone God. Motivated by pride, Satan defied God and determined to destroy the crown of God’s creation, man. It is through the serpent that the first recorded temptation to turn mankind against God is introduced, as recorded in the third chapter of the Book of Genesis. Satan continues to work through other people and other things in his attempt to destroy us.

The first temptation focused on creating doubt within the minds of Adam and Eve concerning God’s Word. God had instructed Adam he could eat the fruit of every tree in the garden, except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord informed Adam of the severe consequence of disobedience—death. Very subtly, the dialogue between Eve and the serpent turned into the misrepresentation of what God had said. Eve began to doubt what God had said and to doubt the consequence of disobedience. Very quickly, Satan, through the serpent, moved Eve from doubt to lust. Lustful looks toward the forbidden fruit began. According to James 1:14-16 unchecked lust turns into sin which ends in death!

Satan’s temptation of man is the same today as always. The devil infiltrates our minds in an attempt to create doubt and then utilizes the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,
and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat”,

Genesis 3:6.

The result of Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience was devastating. Immediately, they both experienced spiritual death. John Phillips in his book Exploring Genesis, offers this good insight: “Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were probably clothed with light, because God covers Himself with light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2) and because the Lord Jesus, in His transfiguration, was similarly arrayed (Mark 9:2-3). The moment they sinned, Adam and Eve saw the light go out.” Adam and Eve’s intimacy with God was destroyed.

As the father and mother of the human race, Adam and Eve plunged all of mankind into sin, Romans 5:12. Their relationship with God was severed. Adam, Eve, and the serpent incurred the curse of their sinful disobedience toward God. Sin caused shame, separation from God, fear, the beginning of the blame game, the loss of their home, spiritual death, and the introduction of physical death. However, sin also caused God’s grace to abound!

God’s love motivated Him to provide the way of redemption for all of mankind. God Himself proclaimed the first gospel message when He made Adam and Eve coats of skin. God had declared the price of sin to be death and without the shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness, Leviticus 17:11; Romans 5:8-10. The way back to God was through the blood! God prophesied of the coming of the Messiah through the seed of the woman. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come to destroy the work of Satan and fulfill the requirements for the redemption of mankind. The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ; His shed blood, His death, His burial, and His resurrection.

Thank You Father, for Your Amazing and undeserved Grace! Help every recipient live as children of the light, Ephesians 5:8.

Learning to serve,

Robert Finley

March 2009

The Responsibilities of the Watchman

The responsibilities of the watchman are designated by the Lord. The Scriptures say the word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel, Ezekiel 3:16, 33:1. It was the watchman’s purpose to maintain a lookout for imposing danger from an approaching enemy. A warning was to be given by the watchman so the people of the city could find shelter and take refuge from the threatening army. The duty of the watchman was to blow the trumpet and sound the warning. The warning was to be loud enough to be heard and distinctly understood as a call to find safety. The faithfulness of the watchman was determined by his faithful performance of his duty, not by the response of the people. It was the responsibility of the people to respond. Upon hearing the warning, the people could choose to find shelter and preserve their lives, or they could choose to ignore the warning and suffer certain destruction and death.

Ezekiel was commissioned as a watchman to the nation of Israel. The Lord spoke to Ezekiel as recorded in Ezekiel 3:17, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” The prophet was given a two-fold ministry: give warning to the wicked and to the righteous of Israel. God had announced, “The soul that sinneth shall die”, Ezekiel 18:20. Ezekiel was a watchman concerning the spiritual condition of Israel. He would keep watch over the spiritual life of the nation, warn the people when sin was allowed to dominate their lives, and give warning of the impending danger. In Proverbs 14:34 it is recorded, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” As the people go, so goes the nation!

Ezekiel was held responsible by God to preach against the sin of the people and warn them of the wrath to come if they refused to repent of their sin and live according to the word of the Lord. The same diligence was to be given toward those who had a righteous walk, but were allowing sin to draw them away from their intimacy with the Lord. God’s call to the people was, “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin”, Ezekiel 18:30b. The Lord held Ezekiel responsible to warn both the wicked and the righteous, but did not hold him accountable for their response. The compassion of God is revealed in Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

Christians today are to warn others of the impending danger of the wrath of God upon unrepentant sin. Jesus commissioned Christians to be the watchmen of today when He spoke “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . .”, John 15:16. The wicked are to be warned of the penalty of unrepentant sin, which is eternity in hell. They are to be given the opportunity to flee to safety, which is to Christ Jesus as Savior. As Christians sound the warning, they fulfill their responsibility. It then becomes the choice of the hearer to respond. In like manner, Christians are to hold other Christians accountable to live righteously before the Lord. When sin is recognized entering the life of a fellow Christian, a warning should be issued to repent, so that intimacy with the Lord may be restored. It is the desire of the Lord that all come to repentance. God longs to be glorified through the righteous and obedient life, not the death and punishment of the wicked.

Lord, empower us with Your Holy Spirit to be effective and faithful watchmen.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

February 2009

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

As a child of God, we are to live life differently than those who do not have a relationship with Christ Jesus. Our lives should exemplify the faith we have in Jesus. The Bible says we are to walk by faith and not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7. The faith that enables us to trust Jesus for our salvation is the faith that grows in our relationship with Him, enabling us to live in obedience to Him.

Our hearts desire to live righteously for Him is not to win or gain God’s love, but because we already have it! We love Him because He first loved us, 1 John 4:19. Therefore, we should willingly die to self and allow the Spirit of God to live the life of Christ through us. The Christian life is lived through faith. This means “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” cannot be accomplished apart from the Holy Spirit’s enablement.

The Christian life lived out biblically will be radically different compared to what most people call “normal”. The normal Christian life will appear abnormal to others! As day is different from night, so should the Christian life be different than those who do not have a relationship with the living God.

Lord, help us dare to live and be different and make a difference in this world for Your glory. May our faith in You be seen through our living for You. Help us to walk in the paths of righteousness for Your names sake.

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley

January 2009

1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

As a new year begins, there will be different emotions experienced by all. While no one knows for certain what this year will bring, we can be certain it will bring change. Every year end, we, and things surrounding us, are never the same as when the year began. How we enter into the year may very well determine how we end the year.

There are a lot of factors involved in bringing about change within our lives. Many names of people I know, and some I don’t, fill my prayer list. They all have different needs: some for salvation or spiritual healing; some for resolution of financial problems; some for reconciliation in relational differences; many for physical healing, with some battling life threatening situations; but all have needs! These situations will change their lives. Our President elect has promised to bring about change for our country. Hopefully, these changes will be for good and will promote the righteousness of God in America.

The motivation to remain faithful to Christ is because of the victory He has already obtained for us through His death and resurrection. It is certain that each one of us will face some kind of difficulty and problem within this year. We make the choice to face these problems with Jesus or without Him. It will be much better with Him.

Truly, it is much easier to share truths by which to live than it is to apply or flesh them out within our own lives. Regardless of what life within 2009 may bring into our lives, may we each one resolve within our heart of hearts to remain steadfast (faithful) to our Lord Jesus Christ. May you experience a Blessed New Year! Stay faithful to Jesus!

Learning to serve,
Robert Finley