Notice the command, “Fight the good fight of faith.” What’s the fight about? The next line reveals it: “Lay hold on eternal life.” The Greek text says, “Lay hold on ZOE,” the LIFE of God. So, the fight is to lay hold of the life that Jesus came to give us.
When Steve Irwin was unexpectedly laid off, he and his wife, Cindy, were faced with the fact that they had been depending on themselves and not on God. As they evaluated their situation and renewed their relationship with God, things began to change.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” –Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
The command to honor your parents may seem easy to some, while much more challenging for others who were raised in negative or abusive environments. Are all parents deserving of honor? No. Does God still command it? Yes.
How can you honor someone who has been cruel or who is no longer in relationship with you? You honor your parents in your heart.
First Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (KJV). Having money is not evil. It’s the love of money—covetousness—that leads to evil.
Not only does God intend for His people to be involved in government, but He instituted a form of government in Exodus 18:21 and Romans 13.
God has called pastors to shepherd people through biblical teaching and counsel. When the full Word of God is taught in church, you’ll find the Bible has plenty to say about political issues (e.g., God’s definition of marriage, the value of unborn lives, proper handling of finances, and other moral standards).
God wants you blessed! There’s no question about it—God’s will is for His people to prosper and enjoy a life of “always having all sufficiency in all things” (2 Corinthians 9:8, KJV). When you’re in obedience to God’s Word, as a tither, you are a candidate for prosperity! Malachi 3:10-11 is clear about what a tither can expect to receive from the Lord:
To understand the full intent and extent of THE BLESSING, you have to return to where it was first expressed—in the creation of man. In the Garden of Eden, God’s intent was for man to have dominion over the whole earth.
Second Corinthians 6:14 instructs us, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?”
We cannot express strongly enough how important it is to marry someone with whom you can be in unity and agreement according to God’s Word. Marrying someone who has not made Jesus Lord and Savior will pose more challenges for you than you may be thinking of right now.
If your heart is longing to find that special someone to talk with, dream with and enjoy life with, you may be on the brink of discouragement. Maybe you’ve even fallen into the trap of praying, waiting, feeling lonely and discouraged, then repeating the process all over again. You may even be wondering…
The word luck does not appear in the Bible.
The biblical promise of a hundredfold return is for sowing seed of any offering you give. But does it also apply to giving your tithe?
Actually, the tithe is a specific commandment from the Lord and carries its own blessing with it. This is a blessing that is separate from the blessing we receive when we sow an offering, which is over and above the tithe:
Proverbs 3:9 gives clear direction for tithing on gross income (before taxes) vs. tithing on the net (after taxes): “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” Tithes should be given from the first fruits—your income before any expenses or other obligations are taken out—the gross, not the net. (Also read Deuteronomy 26.)
Brother Copeland tithes off the gross and considers the money that goes for taxes as a seed into the government. Since he started doing this, he has never failed to have more than enough to pay his taxes when they are due.
God does not want you poor and miserable. He wants you blessed.
If you are born again, as a joint heir with Christ, all God’s resources belong to you. This isn’t just religion; it’s New Testament reality! When Jesus went to the cross, He totally defeated poverty on your behalf once and for all. As 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.”
Wondering how to calculate your tithe? It’s easy! The tithe is the first 10% of your gross income—before any expenses or obligations, including taxes.
How do we know? Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase” (NKJV). The dictionary defines first fruits as “the first agricultural produce of a season, especially when given as an offering to God.” (See also Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:32; Hebrews 7:2, 4.)
Praise God. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him at noon. Praise Him at night. If you've never praised God in your life, then get started right now. Praise Him for freedom. Praise Him for healing and Calvary. Praise Him for the Name of Jesus.
You ought to be shouting your way to work and shouting your way back home! If there's anything the devil can't stand, it's praise.
Jesus said as long as you live in the world, you're going to have trouble. (I can vouch for that!) But you're not just in the world. You're in Jesus in the world, and that makes all the difference. You're in Him and He's overcome every kind of trouble there is.
As God's child, you're not the defeated trying to get victory. You're the overcomer, and Satan's trying to rob you of the victory that already belongs to you.
Be not conformed to this world. If you live like the world, you'll be overcome by the world. It's as simple as that. So don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold.
Instead "...be transformed" by the entire renewal of your mind. Overcome the world by having your mind transformed to think like God thinks. In other words, when you see something in the Word, say, "I agree with that. From now on I'm acting on that instead of what I used to think."
Good success is a way of life that comes from being established in the Word of God. It comes from spending so much of your time and your thought life on the Word that it becomes what you and I could call "second nature." It comes from hearing and obeying the Word so consistently that it begins to guide your actions even when you're not consciously thinking about it.
Preparation. When it comes to fighting spiritual battles, that's a word you'd do well to remember. Most believers don't pay much attention to it. They don't prepare themselves in advance. They fiddle around until the devil makes his move, then they jump up and try to fight him with the Word... and they usually lose.
Right now you may be on the edge of a major decision...about to make a change in your job or your church or your personal life. You know you need divine guidance. And you're hoping desperately to hear from the Lord.
If that's your situation, don't panic. Being led by the Lord isn't some complicated process that only the spiritual "pros" can master.
I found that out years ago when I was a new believer. I wanted to live in a way that was pleasing to God, but I didn't know how to make decisions that were in line with His will.