“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

When Jesus made this statement, there were multitudes following him (cf. Matt. 5:1).  Looking inside those numbers one would find that not all who followed were there for spiritual reasons.  Ultimately, some would no longer follow him (cf. John 6:66).

There are all kinds of appetites of men today.  People are eager to fill the many restaurants and cafes of the land.  People are eager to fill the shopping areas to engage in “retail therapy.”  People are zealous for all the sports and leisure that can be provided.  How is the appetite of spiritual things in the world today?  Consider three thoughts along these lines.

1. A Closeness to God. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Ps. 42:1-2).  Here is a person who has a strong spiritual appetite.  Assembling with the saints to worship is vitally important to him.  He states further, “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday” (Ps. 42:4).  This is the same attitude as David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1).  The close relationship to God every day made the times of worship that much more special.  Those who faithfully assemble know how vital it is to be close to God.
2. A Craving for the Bible. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3).  One can truly see the intensity of the appetite for the word in this passage.  No words can do for man what the Bible does.  David stated, “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments” (Ps. 119:131).  Read also these passages from Psalm 119 which involve a strong spiritual appetite for the word (Ps. 119:16, 20, 24, 35, 40, 47, 48, 70, 72, 77, 92, 97, 103, 111, 113, 119, 127, 128, 129, 140, 143, 159, 162, 163, 165, 167, 174).  It is truly as Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).
3. A Continual Prayer Life. David wrote, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit” (Ps. 143:5-7).  The man after God’s own heart (cf. 1 Sam. 13:14) would well understand the exhortation, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).  Prayer is that avenue of communication to God that gives strength to the heart and mind.  Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).  Jesus valued prayer.  All the apostles sought God through it.  Strong Christians are made stronger in it.  While the world today is saturated in communication tools of electronic technology, none satisfy like God.

Jimmy Clark

 

 

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).

Public speaking, especially in preaching and teaching, demands the best one can give.  Care about preparation, delivery and choice of words will always be vital to speaking effectively.  While everyone has not had formal training on sermon preparation and delivery, there are important aspects to speaking as the Bible addresses that should be true of any man who tries to present God’s word.  Consider three points concerning speaking that are found within the pages of the Bible.

1. Power in the Word of God. The concept of speaking as the oracles of God (cf. 1 Peter 4:11) is to let the text of the Bible be the message presented.  Paul stated of the gospel, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).  Paul wrote also to the Roman brethren, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  Therefore, the faith that saves is not just any faith, but it is the faith that is tied to the word of God.  Human interest stories and personal experiences have their place in conversation, but they do not have the power of the actual word of God.  David wrote, “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me” (Ps. 119:93).  Truly, the word is living and powerful (cf. Heb. 4:12).
2. Persuasion from the Word of God. Paul exhorted Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2).  When Paul was questioned by certain ones at Rome about the nature of the church, Luke recorded, “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).  Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God” (1 Cor. 2:1).  His means of persuasion was from the motivation found through the crucified Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:2).
3. Product out of the Word of God. “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).  If one is going to get the proper product from sowing, then the right seed must be used.  Another kind of seed is reproductive seed to produce children.  James wrote of God the Father (cf. James 1:17), “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).  Peter wrote, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).  A TED talk may be eye-catching in its technology, entertaining in its content, and well designed in its form, but the word of God produces what the Lord has designed for it to do.  Isaiah stated of the word, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).  May such speaking abound.

Jimmy Clark

“Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Col. 1:29).

The word translated “striving” (Col. 1:29) is from the word meaning “to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers; to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strive” (Thayer, p. 10).  Paul believed in what he was doing.  There was no quit in him when it came to his work.  He would put forth his full strength into whatever he could to do to see that the cause of Christ prospered.  Sometimes when looking back on a lack of success in an endeavor, there are indications of a lack of effort as the root cause.  It is not that the cause was not noble.  It is not that the participants did not know what their job was.  It comes down to not putting forth the effort to see the job done well.  Consider three spiritual causes that are worth putting forth the effort.

1. Entering into the Strait Gate. Luke wrote of Jesus’ words, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).  Matthew wrote of Jesus’ words, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13,14).  Jesus is realistically proclaiming that the way to heaven is difficult and not a path that the majority of people will follow.  Some will not attempt to try the life of a Christian.  Some will begin and find it not to their liking only to fall away (cf. Luke 8:13).  While heaven is a highly desirable eternal destination, putting forth the effort is a challenge some will not accept.
2. Endeavoring Together for the Faith of the Gospel. Paul wrote, “Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” (Phil. 1:27).  The unity of the church in the spiritual work of the church is worth putting forth the effort.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).  The pleasantness and beauty of unity in the greatest cause on earth is truly worth the effort (cf. Ps. 133:1).
3. Exerting the Energy to Receive the Incorruptible Crown. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Cor. 9:25).  Temperance involves the self-discipline to hold oneself accountable.  Running the race (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24) to receive the crown demands the best effort of the runner.  While some may cheer and support in every way, it is still the case “For every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:5).  As the old Olympic athletes trained hard every day to reach their goal, so is it the case with the Christian.  Paul stated, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).  The judgment on “that day” (2 Tim. 1:12) with eternal consequences (cf. Matt. 25:46) makes striving in the effort worthwhile.

Jimmy Clark