The Need for Perseverance (Part 3)

When it comes to the subject of perseverance, we have looked definitions, quotes, and bible verses discussing the subject. In that information there is some invaluable material. But it is all for not if there is no way to make any applications. That will be the purpose of this blog: how to persevere.

(1) The first step in perseverance is to expect problems. If we expect life to be smooth sailing and then all of a sudden we are encountered with difficulty, we will be hit hard. But if we realize these obstacles are coming, it will eliminate any shock value.

(2) Second, when we are faced with problems, let us pray. We often think that we are alone to deal with our problems. But God is with us and wants to listen to our struggles. When we pray we show God that we are depending on Him. If we do not pray, are we sending the opposite message to our Father?

(3)Solve the problem positively. Negativity is contagious. We should learn that these trials and obstacles exist for our personal and spiritual development. Remember James 1:2,3.

(4) Be patient. If we are not, then we may be quick to compromise standards. We may become more interested in resolving the problem as quickly as we can, rather than as holy as we can. Let us not do anything we can regret.

(5) Through the whole process of persevering we should remember one thing that I have been telling myself: God is more interested in our character than our comfort.

Goodness Gracious!!!!!!!!!! (Part 2)

Last week, when looking at the glorious subject of God's grace, we turned to the book of Romans for clarification of 'grace only' (with the implication of once saved always saved). We learned though God's grace is a gift we can never deserve which forgives our sins, we cannot assume it is then OK to continue in sin.

This time we will look at a different text regarding the same subject. The great book of Ephesians deals with the subject of God's grace, and it should help us clear up any misconceptions accompanying God's grace.

Ephesians 2:8,9 reads "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

This is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament. In a nutshell, Paul is telling us exactly how we are saved, and it is through nothing but God's grace saving us. And I want to say again that this is the only way we can be saved. BUT, does that mean we do not have a say or involvement in our salvation? There is a HUGE denominational misunderstanding about the text above. Some find "not as a result of works" and "not of yourselves" as His grace exempts Christians from obedience.

The same groups who believe this misunderstanding fail to read the next verse, Ephesians 2:10. It reads "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Now I am sure nobody with an open mind can miss that. Just after saying we have been saved by His grace, Paul tells us that we are created for good works. Is Paul contradicting himself, or is he saying what common sense dictates: Christians have an involvement in their own salvation.

Children Teaching Their Parents

Have you every heard of the saying "I would rather see a sermon than hear a sermon?" I am sure you have, but if not, then let me explain. Everybody can learn from a sermon, but a lesson can be learned very easily by illustration or example. Let me be the first to say I love to hear the Word spoken by everyone who stands up and proclaims it at Bear Valley. There are many talented preachers and teachers that I have learned so much from. This Sunday morning was no different. Neal Pollard, as he consistently does, delivered a very scriptural and motivating sermon.

However, there was another sermon presented to me, before Neal even got up to speak. And it was a good one, or else I would not be writing about it. It was by a little five year old boy named Caleb sitting on the pew to my left. Caleb has a job with the Bear Valley Bible Institute as the Junior Librarian. His salary is $1 per week, and his task is to maintain and organize the children's' books.

As Caleb was going through his Bible and Bible case, he came across two dollars. We realized Caleb was missing a few bucks, but we had no idea where they were. Needless to say Caleb was thrilled to be reunited with his earnings. But what happened next thrilled me. Without any instructions or guidance regarding what to do with the two dollars, Caleb simply put one of his two dollars in the collection plate. Not only did he do this on his own, but he was extremely happy in his giving. He instantly made an impact with his father. I learned a few things in watching my son. The first was to be a cheerful giver, and second was to give liberally. My son was happy to make a contribution. And he was not concerned with giving half of his money.

Brett Petrillo, a fellow student at BVBID, said in class last week that parents can learn from their children. I have to say that is an understatement. I did not just learn from my son, but I was touched forever.

The Need for Perseverance (Part 2)

Last time we looked at perseverance, we looked at some good quotes showing how this quality made ordinary men achieve so much. We also discussed a little bit of background to perseverance. But now lets look and see why it is we need perseverance. Perhaps God knew we would need it!

Let us consider some passages:

"Man born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble" Job14:1

“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

“Indeed, all those who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:16

All three of these verses show the hard fact that life is tough. Certainly Job went through so much in losing his children, wealth, and health. No one can be more qualified to say life is hard than Job. To try to equate what we will endure in this life to what Job did might be extreme. But the second and third verse promote the same idea: life is tough! God knows how difficult our lives can be, and it is no wonder He wants us to persevere.

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” Proverbs 24:16

I love this verse found in Proverbs. Not only is God placing importance on perseverance, but he is making a sharp contrast between the righteous and the wicked. In this verse God is associating those who do not give up as "righteous." Then He identifies those who do give up as "wicked." What a message. So often we think of the wicked as those who lie, cheat, murder, and fornicate. But God is also saying that whoever does not persevere is wicked. I just find that amazing!

Goodness Gracious!!!!!!!! (Part 1)

I am happy to have a blog because it can be a great way to reach out to my family and supporters, share what I have learned with others, and express biblical ideas outside of the arena of school, thought this is a school project. Right now I have a topic that has been on my heart for a couple of days, and it is the topic of God's grace.

I was having a discussion with someone a couple of days ago who has a very unhealthy view on God's grace. This person is clearly heading into a downward spiral physically and spiritually. But when I talk with him, he is fine with his state of being now, and what it will be in eternity. His argument is based on God's grace, and that is so great that it will save all men from sin.

Let me first state a disclaimer. The only thing saving mankind from sin is God's grace. Nothing more. I would never say anything but this great truth. God's grace is sufficient. But upon the foundation of God's grace can we conclude we can have no involvement in our salvation, since we will be saved regardless? The Bible, coupled with common sense, emphatically says NO!!!!

The idea that you cannot fall from grace, also known as 'once saved always saved', does not originate from the Bible, but denominationalism. Among denominations there is a plan of salvation known as "The Roman Road" to salvation. In this plan several verses (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:13, 10:9, 10) are used to lay a path to being a Christian. If this plan had not been neglecting the necessity of baptism in Romans 6 this would be a great plan! But how can any religious group claim to map out a plan of salvation in Romans and still believe in the false and dangerous doctrine once saved always saved?

Romans 6:1,2 are such key verses when we are trying to understand God's grace. It reads "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" What powerful words. Paul here has acknowledged that taking advantage of God's grace is most definitely unacceptable. Romans 6:12 says "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey it's lusts." Consider Jesus' statement in Matthew 6:24 "no one can serve two masters."

Romans 6:15, 16 wrap up this argument quite nicely. It reads "What then, shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of he one whom you obey, either sin resulting in death, or of the obedience resulting in righteousness?"

Now no one could deny what these scriptures are saying, right? Paul makes it very clear in the book of Romans: God's grace is sufficient to save us from our sin, but there is also a standard Christians are to live by.

Next time we will examine another section of scripture that is abused, claiming that God will save you from your sins, regardless of your involvement.

The Need for Perseverance (Part 1)

In 2 Peter 1:5-8, Christians are given a list of seven characterisitcs to add to our faith. I have been particularly smitten with one of these over the others (realizing they are all important). This trait is perseverance. On this post I would like to define perseverance, and maybe throw in some quotes showing the pwer of perseverance.

Perseverance, and the idea of perseverance is found so many times in the Bible. Persevere is synonymous with persistence, overcoming, steadfastness, resolve, and endurance. In the Greek, most if not all of these words have the same meaning: to persist in a state or condition in spite of discouragement, counterinfluences, or opposition.

I have some interesting quotes from the secular realm showing how effective and necessary this quality can be.

The first quote is from a man who wrote biographies on two very accomplished men: Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. When asked about what made these two men great, Napolean Hill would say

"I found no quality save persistence...as a source for their stupendous acheivements."

Another quote is from Carlyle saying...

"The block of granite which was an obstacle to the weak becomes a stepping stone in the pathway of the strong"

What great ideas! To think how inspirational these can be! Well if this was at all helpful or motivational to you, then just wait for what the Bible has to say on perseverance in Part 2!

Character Matters

In the realm of sports there is a lot of bad wrap regarding athletes. There is the steroid issue plaguing American baseball and the Olympics. Athletes in college and professional football have especially been misbehaving, and for some reason this is all we hear about when the sports channel is on. The perception is athletes are trouble -makers and lousy role models, and that may be right.

Plaxico Burress, wide reciever for the New York Giants, recently shot himself in the foot (literally) in a New York night club. Talk about wrong place and wrong time! Another NFL player is Adam Jones, who has been in the negative spotlight consistently since coming out of college. His conduct was so bad the commisioner of the NFL suspended Adam for an entire season. There are others who have been accused of murder, concealing illegal weapons, possessing illegal and illecit drugs, and the list could go on.

But there is a successful role model out there for kids and for all of us, one that we could at least respect and admire. His name is Tim Tebow. He has won two national championships, one Heisman trophy, and countless other awards. He will very well go down as the best college football player in history. But in contrast with all the other big names in sports, Tebow did something different. He never compromised his integrity and moral ethics to succeed in greater ways than most athletes on steroids will ever. During the National Title Game, the announcer said that if one could spend 15 to 20 minutes around Tebow, then your life would be better for it. what a compliment! How refreshing is it to see someone of such "moral excellence" succeed in a field where sacrificing character seems to be a prerequesite.

The Greatest Gifts Sometimes Come in the Smallest Packages

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father"

James 1:17

On December 26th 2008, my lovely wife Wanda Gail gave birth to our third son: Jacob William Coker. Jacob's birth was a bit overdue, and though she was miserable, she had no choice but to patient.

Jacob's birthdate, and his name, has some significance, especially to Wanda and her family. Wanda was very close to her father, named Joseph, but everyone called him "J. W." He past away when Wanda was a freshmen in high school. It was a very hard loss for her and her family.

Wanda and I had already come to the first name Jacob, but we were stuck without a middle name. We decided William in order for the initials to resemble her father's. So the name resemblance was planned, but what wasn't planned was uniquely coincedental. Jacob William Coker was born on the 26th of December, and this also was Wanda Gail's father's birthday.

Jacob's birth was also a very meaningful one to me. Of course, Caleb's and Mason's births were meaningful as well, but due to external circumstances, and internal conflict and immaturity, I have long regreted how I dealt with those situations.

But awaiting Jacob's arrival, I was completely content with my life, and there was nothing to hinder my excitement about Jacob's arrival. UNTIL Wanda was on her way for a regular checkup, and she got in a wreck. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but our car was completely undriveable. My tranquil life quickly vanished with worries of no money, no car, around Christmas time, no sleep, and my wife being due anyday! I was beginning to think that I would not enjoy the birth of my last son. Due to these worries, my study habits were subpar to say the least (this explains the long time between my blogs). I felt hopeless.

Job 14:1 has long been one of my favorite scriptures.

"Man born of a woman is few of days, and full of trouble"

But the Bible stresses perseverance, as well as reliance on the Lord. Without getting into much detail, I enjoyed the birth of Jacob in the manner that I had hoped due to the love and help that I recieved from my church family. Being so far away from home has not separated me and my family from the promises the Lord makes to provide for us while we seek first His kingdom.

I wanted this blog to be a thank you for those who have helped us through such a trying time, as well as a testimonial to how God provides for us, even when we don't see how. Jacob's arrival was a very joyous one thanks to the saints at Bear Valley, St. Augustine, and Tallahassee. I love my God, my family, and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you again. This has been a great learning and matruing process for me.