Evangelism

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What is evangelism?

Evangelism is telling & showing others of God’s message of reconciliation to all people of all time. Down through the ages, the church has made two mistakes when it comes to evangelism. Firstly, it is not forcing people to adopt Church standards (1 Corinthians 5v12) and nor is it simply a message of join the church as a symbol of good works (Ephesians 2vv8-10). God has a message for all people. This message from God says that everybody has sinned against God (Isaiah 53v6; Romans 3vv10-11); nobody can earn their reconciliation with God (Ephesians 2v9); that God sent His Son Jesus to be born, crucified and resurrected so that salvation can be had by all people of all time (John 3v16; 1 Timothy 1v15); Because of that, it is only by acquiescing to God, by faith in Jesus alone that people are saved (John 5v24; Acts 16v31). That is the message of evangelism. Finally, evangelism is also lifestyle! Jesus Christ is to permeate every area of your life! You are a messenger of Jesus Christ, and a message from Jesus Christ, whether you want to be or not! The way you conduct yourself, both in public and in private, shows Jesus Christ to people.

Why evangelize?

The prime motivation for evangelism is out of gratitude for what God has done for you, in that the you love God because He loved you first (1 John 4vv10-12, 14,19). It was this sentiment Paul refers to when he writes, “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” (2 Corinthians 5v14). When you evangelise, you reflect something of the character of God, because God Himself is a missionary God. Jesus was sent to save the lost and redeem mankind! The Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and the Son!

You are called to go!

While you may not be called to be an evangelist (Ephesians 4v11), you are called to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4v5). In Jesus’ last words on earth, His church was commanded to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1v8). You are a member of that church, and as a part of the Church, you are included in the way God has chosen to spread His message of reconciliation (Acts 4v12; 2 Peter 3v9). Remember Paul’s words from Romans 10vv14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"”

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Psalm 95

(read by Carol)

95:1 Oh come, let's sing to Yahweh. Let's shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!

95:2 Let's come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let's extol him with songs!

95:3 For Yahweh is a great God, a great King above all gods.

95:4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also his.

95:5 The sea is his, and he made it. His hands formed the dry land.

95:6 Oh come, let's worship and bow down. Let's kneel before Yahweh, our Maker,

95:7 for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!

95:8 Don't harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

95:9 when your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work.

95:10 Forty long years I was grieved with that generation, and said, "It is a people that errs in their heart. They have not known my ways."

95:11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They won't enter into my rest."

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27th February 2012

G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 27^th of February 2012. Play the audio and see how Jim and Joy are challenging you to live your faith out this week!

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Luke Looks Back Chapter 3

Luke 3:1-18

Heralding the Messiah

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Luke continues with his careful introduction to Jesus' ministry. He tells us all about John because John came before, and announced, Jesus. One thing he is going to make very clear throughout his book is that while John was a prophet Jesus was more than a prophet.

First we read Luke 3: 1-9

Luke in 3: 4 - 6 uses Isaiah's great picture of hope in Isaiah 40: 3 - 5, which prophesies the return of the Lord and his people to Jerusalem after the exile, as a picture of the coming of the Lord Jesus to the people of God. John is the voice. Jesus is the Lord.

An obvious first question to make you think, although it does not come directly from this passage is this:

What is your hope? How far does your hope change the way you live from day to day? Where should our hope be placed?

Pause.

Obviously the first part of that question has an individual answer, not an only right one. Our hope should be placed on being with Jesus in his heavenly kingdom and then after our resurrection on being part of his kingdom when heaven and earth meet to form the new heaven and new earth that is our ultimate destination.

Second question: the basic message that John preached was 'a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins'.  How does this compare with the messages you hear preached these days? Are the differences only because John was preaching before the life and death of Jesus and the preaching you hear is from long after?  Or are there differences there ought not to be?

Pause.

Again the answer to that question depends on your situation.

The last verse we read: ' the axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.' Is harsh.

Third question: in what ways can we see that happening in our day and in our society?

Pause.

Yet another question where the answer depends on who we are and where we are. When you look at the world today and see what a mess it is in because of men's greed and lust for power it hasn't improved much since John's day.

Part B

Read Luke 3: 10 - 18

When the people asked him how they were to live to show they had truly repented John gave them 4 practical examples in this passage. Two ways they were to look after the poor: giving tem clothes and food. Two ways they were not to be corrupt and to be good and honest in all things: the examples of the tax collectors and the soldiers.

Fourth question:          if he had been talking to us what examples would he have given? Were his examples, particularly the first two, really practical? (It would not be long before they ran out of spare clothes and food.) How realistic are the examples you think he might have given to you? How well can we follow these examples when we have to live in the real world we find ourselves in?

Pause.

Yet again the answers will all depend on who and where you are.

John talked about 3 things: a prophetic warning of coming judgement (flee from the wrath to come... the axe at the root of the trees ...); calling for justice and compassion in our dealings with others (sharing clothes and food ... honesty in all things ... ); and a right attitude to the coming Messiah (accepting the baptism of the Holy Spirit ).

Question 5:      Different churches major on one or other of the present day equivalents of these.'  Which do our churches make the most of? On which do we fall short?

Pause.

Like all the questions on this passage we have to ask ourselves how they apply to us. And I cannot tell you what your answers should be!

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23rd February 2012

Fear of the Lord

It is not popular or common in Christian circles to talk about the fear of the Lord. People much prefer to emphasis a loving, fluffy God who forgives everything. They tend to ignore the discipline side of God. In Acts 5, we have a chilling account of how God deals with two Christians who lie. Basically they drop dead. That is how seriously God takes sin and we would do well to remember that on a daily basis.

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We are all in the land of the enemy and are subject to his attacks in spirit soul and body, but God says, "Give no place to the Devil" Eph 4:27 That means that the devil cannot take a place in us if we do not let him. We open the way for him to come in if we sin the smallest sin in word, thought or deed and gives place for the devil to do us harm. I'm going to repeat that because it is very important.

We open a way for the devil to come into our lives and attack us when we commit the smallest sin in word, in thought or in deed.

Another way we can let the devil in to attack us is to become apathetic, to become lazy in the amount of time we spend with God seeking his will. If you fit your quiet time in whilst you're eating your breakfast, or making your packed lunch do you expect anyone to believe that God is the most important thing in your life.

Or if you get into bed last thing at night and read your bible for 20 minutes before putting out the light. That's not loving God. If you love someone you spend lots of time with them, you hang around them as soon as they come in the door you stop watching your favourite TV prog in order to spend time with them. You get up an hour earlier in the morning to be in their prescence. You spend lunch with them. You spend time listening to them, asking them what their desires are? Your weekends are planned around them, so you can be together as much as possible. Does that sound like the time you spend with God?

1 Peter 5:8 -  be vigilant (watch all the time) because your adversary the devil walks about liking a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'

Job 28:28 - And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."

Psalm 33:8 - Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

It's a choice! We choose to fear the Lord or to not fear the Lord

Proverbs 1:29 - since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.

How do fear the Lord in practice

Deuteronomy 6:2 - so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Psalm 112:1 - Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.

Psalm 128:1 - Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him

Psalm 34:11-14

Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

Benefits of fearing the Lord

Psalm 112:1 - Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.

Psalm 128:1 - Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him

Psalm 25:14 - The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

Psalm 34:7 - The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 34:9 - Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing

Psalm 103:13 - As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Psalm 147:11 - the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

It's hard work

Proverbs 2 v 1-6

My son, if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding-

indeed, if you call out for insight

and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

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Temptation

Welcome to Partake WISE. The word for today is temptation. A word every human being who has ever lived, including Jesus Christ, has faced at some point in their life.

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I don’t know if you have ever seen what appear to be silly safety signs such as this one that I saw on a chainsaw which said “Do not attempt to stop the chain with your hands." That would not be a temptation to me! But that’s what we are facing when we are tempted to sin and disobey God! When you are tempted to disobey God, either in action or inaction, you are not to touch it – just like you wouldn’t try to stop a chainsaw with your hands!!

Christian Disciples face constant temptation to disobey God and sin. However temptations are common experiences for all Christian Disciples. God allows temptations, but He will never let you be tempted beyond what He knows you can handle – that’s His promise. And even more, He always provides a means of escape from temptation! (1 Corinthians 10v12-13)!

Temptation it must be noted is not sin, or Jesus the sinless one would not be sinless! Rather it is the giving into temptation that is causes us to sin. By dealing with temptation at the very moment it confronts you, you show you are living a life worthy of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that as Christian Disciples we face temptation from three different angles: the world, our old nature and satan.

Here are some short guidelines to help you deal with temptation:

• Remembering the need to love God with a greater love for whatever tempts us (1 John 2:15).
• Acknowledging and remembering that sin’s power was nullified by Jesus’ death on the cross (Romans 6:11) and in living under the control of the Spirit’s power (Galatians 5:16).
• Remembering that you are as a Christian Disciple to be living a moment-by-moment dependence in faith on the Spirit’s power, and make a conscious decision by an act of your will to benefit from the Spirit’s power and assistance.
• Remember to continue to grow as a Christian Disciple and submit everything to God. If you are growing as Christian Disciples we grow more in love with God, and therefore our desire to sin and disobey Him grows less.

Remember that the Holy Spirit lives inside you, and greater is He that is in you than anything else in the world (1 John 4v4). Now that is a comforting thought, because it means we don’t face these temptations alone! So next time you are faced with temptation, pray and ask for God’s help! If you have specific sins that entangle you habitually, ask that the Holy Spirit will help you avoid the temptation! It may also mean that you are to avoid the situation or circumstance where you are being tempted.

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Psalm 103

(read by Pammy)

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103:1 Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!

103:2 Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits;

103:3 who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;

103:4 who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;

103:5 who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

103:6 Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.

103:7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.

103:8 Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.

103:9 He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.

103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.

103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.

103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

103:13 Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.

103:14 For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.

103:15 As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

103:16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.

103:17 But Yahweh's loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children's children;

103:18 to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.

103:19 Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.

103:20 Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.

103:21 Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.

103:22 Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!

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20th February 2012

G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 20^th of February 2012. Let's go over to Jim and Joy and discover what they are sharing with us today. Over to you, Jim!

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Its a new week and a new day and you are bursting to tell someone about Jesus. Right? No you say I freeze up and fear. Help!!

If there was ever a man who couldn't keep the good news of Jesus to himself it was this man Philip we read about him in the book of Acts. Looking at this man, what do we notice that we can hopefully relate to and learn from his example? Maybe we can follow his example as we prepare ourselves for a new week witnessing for Jesus.

We take up the story in Acts 8 Philip the evangelist is having a great time in Samaria making Christ known as Saviour Healer and Deliverer. Philip was saying "listen as I tell you of the all powerful Jesus Christ who can transform peoples lives." As he preached the good news of Jesus the whole city is being turned to God, many miracles occurring and many were saved, healed and delivered from all kinds of demonic influences. Revival was taking place.

Philip must have been overjoyed to be there. Philip was having the time of his life.

But you know something we can get so caught up with evangelism and the excitement of it where we are, as people around us are beginning to see God in a new light and yes enjoying God, that we easily forget there is a big world out there and God is caring for it and is eager for people of all nations to come to know Jesus and experiencing the joy and peace to be found in Him. So my first thought to share that I see here is that in meeting peoples needs in evangelism God is not only looking at Samaria but always has a much bigger picture in view.

God the Almighty who knows everything is all powerful and sees the whole world in one view. He sees every country at the same moment and is working out his plans and purposes in them. So into this chapter and story where Philip is one of the main characters walks or rather rides another important person who is going to play a very important place in God's strategy for converting not another city like Samaria but a larger country called Ethiopia. So God had a plan. It begins with linking up Philip with this important man on his journey to Ethiopia. A man who was although a worshipper of God was desperate in needing help to understanding the good news of Jesus the Messiah as Lord and King. He didnt know the gospel. No one had told him.

This man held a very high rank in the Ethiopian governemet. He was the Queen of Ethiopia's treasurer. A man who would have tremendous influence in the nation. He had been to Egypt perhaps for business reasons . But nothing happens by chance inb this world does it? Certainly not as far as God is concerned or His [people.He had spent time at the temple worshipping but lacked knowledge and understanding of the truth concerning Jesus. So how is God going to introduce his truth into Ethiopia? Philip is the chosen vessel to carry the truth to this man as he travels to his home land of Ethiopia in a horse driven royal chariot.

Philip is transported somehow into a desert region by God which was on the route the man from Ethiopia is travelling on. Surprised? God knew exactly what He was doing. Isn't He amazing? Wow!! But I wonder if Philip wanted to move from Spring Harvest where it was all happening in Samaria to go to a solitary place. There could have been no bigger contrast. Any objections that Philip might have had are certainly are certainly not expressed in this narrative. You could say Philip had no say in the matter. God simply placed him where he wanted hin to be to serve in the purposes of God. Philip may well have prayed that morning "Lord lead me today to those you want to reach with the gospel. I am willing to go anywhere for you" A complete readiness to go wherever God sends him with this wonderful gospel message!

First lesson - BE READY : The Ethiopian is in his horse drawn chariot reading an Old Testament manuscriptfrom Isiaiah53. Philip sees him and hears him reading looking puzzled.

Second lesson - BE BRAVE : Philip shows not only he is ready but also BRAVE as he approaches the rich man. Can you imagine it? Two complete strangers meeting and the question asked is "Do you understand what you are reading?

Third lesson - BE PREPARED : Philip is PREPARED to teach the man the way to God through Jesus. He wants the man to understand the glorious message of salvation through Jesus. He KNOWS THE SCRIPTURES in order to explain the passage the man is reading from. Philip was chosen to show the man what he needed to see and the man was resding a passage the Lord knew he would be reading to prepare him for his meeting with Philip. God is truly sovereign in all the affairs of the nations and of course here in this desert place.

Isaiah 53 is clearly understood by Philip and he goes through this great chapter in our Bibles explaining that the Messiah spoken of here is Jesus. My friends I do not know how well you know this chapter in Isaiah but it is a great chapter of prophecy concerning Jesus and yet his name is not mentioned here. But if "you have eyes to see" when you look in the gospels and see their fulfilment recorded 800 years before Christ the Messiah came into the world It is astounding.

Be assured, God's Word is absolutely true and can be trusted without question.

So as you witness for Jesus use the tool He used and was so effective with.

Joy's Prayer

Dear loving heavenly Father! We worship you for your greatness. You are all seeing, all knowing, all powerful. We are so thankful for that knowledge. You are so powerful that you take such an interest in each one of us in our individual lives. Your strength is always so welcome as we feel so inadequate for many tasks, but we are so thankful that you have said, that by your Spirit you will empower us to do all we need to do including sharing our faith in Jesus. Please help us to be effective witnesses and may we see the fruit from our labours and glorify You in Heaven! In Jesus' Name, Amen

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Luke Looks Back

Chapter 2

Not all the stories commonly believed about the birth of Jesus are true to the actual facts. He was born before Herod died in 4 BC ,in Bethlehem, which was not his parent's home village, probably in an ordinary house (the word translated 'inn' can mean a guest room or just the sleeping area in a house; the manger would be between the family area and the livestock area).

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Not all the stories commonly believed about the birth of Jesus are true to the actual facts. He was born before Herod died in 4 BC ,in Bethlehem, which was not his parent's home village, probably in an ordinary house (the word translated 'inn' can mean a guest room or just the sleeping area in a house; the manger would be between the family area and the livestock area).

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Guidance

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G'day and welcome to Partake and our continuing series "Issues". Today we are going to look together at the issue of guidance.

Solomon writing in Proverbs 3v5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

The Prophet Isaiah speaking in Isaiah 6v8: "Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me."

When Jesus Christ called you personally and said: "Follow Me!" and you responded "YES, Lord!" that was the start of a beautiful relationship between the Living God and yourself.   Perhaps the most common question all Christian Disciples ask is "How can I know God's will and His guidance?"  Now of course, being active in prayer and studying the Bible play major roles, in this and they are assured ways of building the relationship between God and yourself.  But for this Podcast we will discover that are other aspects to be considered about being guided, and discerning what is God's will for you and I.  These involve being controlled by the Holy Spirit, through counsel and circumstances and through making wise decisions.

1. Controlled by the Holy Spirit

So firstly, the Christian Disciple is guided by being controlled by the Holy Spirit. Another way to say this is by submitting to the Spirit's leading.  Fundamental to being guided by the Spirit, is for you and I to be filled with the Spirit and to keep on being filled with the Spirit, or controlled by the Spirit.  When the Spirit is quenched (1 Thessalonians 5v19) or grieved (Ephesians 4v30), then the Spirit no long has control of you and I.  In order to allow the Spirit control of us, we need to resubmit ourselves to God!

It is a good daily practice for you and I to do the following on a daily basis.

• Confess all known sin (1 John 1v9) and accept unreservedly the certain assurance of being forgiven for your sins including the sin of quenching or grieving the Holy Spirit. Sin is sin and there are no degrees of sin, big or small, it just is... Any sin creates a barrier whether (in our earthly terminology) it is a big sin like murder or a small sin like lying... Homosexuality and pornography are just as bad as lusting after that girl who just walked by - all are adultery.... That's one of the reasons the Pharisees got it so mixed up and why Jesus Christ was indignant with scorn towards them misleading people.
• Devote to being a living sacrifice for Jesus Christ (Romans 12v1-2)
• Enable the Holy Spirit to convict you of anything wrong and sinful in your life (Psalm 139v23-24)
• Seeks the Holy Spirit's divine power in order to serve Jesus Christ (Galatians 5v16; Ephesians 3v16) and to do all things for glory of Jesus Christ, for this is one of the prime roles of the Holy Spirit, and sadly, often a neglected part of the Holy Spirit's role in the life of the believer.

Additionally, part of being controlled by the Holy Spirit, the Christian Disciple is to yield to Him.  Romans 6v13 and James 4v7 command this.  In yielding to the Holy Spirit, the body (1 Corinthians 6v20) and mind (Romans 12v1-2) are given to Him sacrificially for the glory of Jesus Christ.  Both the body and the mind are yielded, because the body activates what is conceived in the mind.  It is a total dedication of all thoughts, plans and actions into God's hands and the seeking of His divine wisdom.

Being guided by the Holy Spirit is illustrated in Acts 16v6-10 where Paul and his group of people acted quickly!  "Paul and his companions went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus woul...dn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas. That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans."

2. Counsel and Circumstances

Additionally to submitting to the Holy Spirit, other people and circumstances are also great helps in regards to guidance.  Proverbs 24 reminds us that: "The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.  So don't go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.  Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say."

We may not be going into physical war, but seeking the advice of others in trying to understand God's guidance, plays an important role in deciding God's will in the life of the Christian Disciple.  When seeking the advice of others, we should bear in mind that the person should be a reliable, godly and faithful servant of God - and know us well.  As Proverbs 25v19 says "Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot". However, as Christian s we must also be aware that even the godliest of people make mistakes, such as Nathan the prophet when he exhorted David to build the temple in 2 Samuel 7.  In the end, each of us alone, is responsible for our own actions and for discerning God's guidance for themselves.

Then we also have circumstances, which are a great learning tool.  Circumstances surround us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  However, as Christians we are to live above all circumstances, while being mindful of them.  Through circumstances, God often disclosed his perfect will.  As Paul writes in Romans 8v28: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Some examples of where God's will was discovered through circumstances include:

• Abraham being asked to substitute a ram caught in a thicket for his son, Isaac (Genesis 22).
• God arranging for Pharaoh's daughter to be bathing in the River Nile as the baby Moses floated by (Exodus 2).
• Paul's nephew over hearing a plot to murder Paul, and then reporting it to the authorities and therefore saving Paul's life (Acts 23).

Now some may sceptically claim that these are purely coincidental, but if they are, and all others like these are, its an awful lot of coincidence!

3.  Wise Decisions:

Now, its all very well to say that we are to make wise decisions. That would seem obvious!  But how do we go about it? A great way is by endeavouring to maintain a right attitude, and asking ourselves the following questions:

• Have I prayed and meditated on God's Word regarding the decision?
• Have I given every area of my life to Jesus Christ?
• Am I prepared to be obedient to God? (Proverbs 3v5-7)
• Am I willing to sacrifice my desires for God's Will?
• Do I truly love and acting lovingly towards other people?
• It should not control me habitually (1 Corinthians 6v12)
• Will it cause another person to sin/stumble? (1 Corinthians 8v9-13)
• Does it build Christian character? (1 Corinthians 10v23)
• Does it bring glory to God? (1 Corinthians 10v31)
• Can I thank God for this activity - could Jesus accompany me?
• If in doubt, throw it out! (Romans 14v22-23)
• Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5v22)

For more to think about please do read Isaiah 6. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them.  Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. Am I willing to do whatever God commands me to do?

Q2. Am I willing to be humble enough to ask other people's advice?

Q3. Am I willing to sacrifice my desires so that God's Will is achieved and His glory acclaimed?

Thank you

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