As I began to consider this concept, I thought it would be fairly easy. After all, how many fathers are there in the world? There must be many that stand out. How much news has been reported in the last ten years? There must be great fathers among the reports.

Soon after beginning my research, I realized this was going to be a difficult, if not impossible, task.

There are fathers in the news alright.

Recently there was Dr. Umaru Abdulmutallab, the father of Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, otherwise known as the “underpants bomber”, or the “undergarments bomber”, or something like that. He is charged with attempting to blow up a Northwest flight headed for Detroit on Christmas day. Dr. Abdulmutallab showed his concern for his son and all mankind, when he sought out the United States embassy in Nigeria to report his son turned to extreme Islamic jihadism and might be a threat to the United States. Certainly an act of love.

Then there was Mr. Sean Goldman, who finally won custody of his nine year old son after a five year international battle in a Brazilian court. He was hailed a hero as television cameras captured him shielding his son while whisking him into a waiting car, the beginning of a long journey back to the United States and readjustment with a father he has barely known.

How about Tiger Woods? A man with a beautiful family, a wife and two loving children. After a late night car accident in his own front yard, somehow involving a golf club and a broken car window, his life unraveled squarely in the public eye. Mistress after mistress came forward with stories of infidelity and deception. I can only imagine the impact on his children and his wife.

Perhaps the story of Michael Lohan. The estranged father of celebrity Lindsay Lohan, arrested for violating an order of protection that was requested by his ex-wife.

Most fathers don’t get in the news for being great fathers. On the positive, take the example of the following individuals:

Billy Graham, one of the most recognized names in the world. He is known for his ministry that is credited with immeasurable numbers of people who have come to a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has been the “pastor of presidents”, the author of books, and the voice to the nations. All that being said, his role as a father doesn’t come to mind when his name is uttered in most circles.

Oral Roberts, recently passed and has been recognized as the one who brought Christ to the television. His efforts a televangelism changed the role of the evangelist forever. Many people were healed under the hand of this gentle servant. He was a father and husband, who loved and was loved, but he is not known for his greatness as a father.

Finally, I mention Derek Loux. A musician and spiritual leader who is known for being a champion of adoption. He recently passed, after a tragic automobile accident, leaving behind a wife and ten children. Of his children there were two biological daughters, five daughters adopted from the Marshall Islands, and three sons, adopted from the Ukraine. A man who made fatherhood a priority in his life and ministry.

In my research for the “father of the decade”, I found that fathers who take their role to heart; recognize their role as prophet, priest, and king. They emulate the life and example of Jesus Christ and because of that; they are recognized for other accomplishments in their lives.

Fathers are heralded in the eyes and hearts of their wives and children.

When they accept their charge as a father, they make a difference that lasts for generations, but is seldom recognized by the news writers of this world.

Several of the men I mentioned are truly great fathers and the greatest legacy they will leave is their role as a father.

Now as I come to the end of my search. I recognize that the “Father of the Decade” isn’t one father but the generation of men who over the past ten years have realized their call as a father. They have recognized it and placed it in their heart. They have not always been perfect, but they have committed themselves to be the best they could be. They have pledged not to make the mistakes of others and to ask forgiveness when they did. They have sought help and mentors along the way and made their steps straight.

In the end I realize the “Father of the Decade” is you!

En servicio como Padre
Dave

^“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)…”

One day in my English class we were discussing proverbs.  I mentioned the old American saying, “If mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy” and explained it to my students. I asked them if they had any similar proverbs in their languages. One of my married female international students smiled and said, “Happy wife, happy life!” 

This student knew what she was talking about.  Her saying is echoed in Proverbs 31.  In this passage, some sayings of a fellow named King Lemuel are written down.  They were taught to him by his  mama.

His mama told him to watch out for loose women and stay away from booze.  She also advised Lemuel to care for the needy.   The epilogue to these proverbs  proclaims the virtues of the woman with noble character.  She is among other things a hard worker and a great businesswoman.  She also ministers to others (Proverbs 31:1-31). 

Is it possible,  in an age in which  women had little rights, that the noble wife was set up to succeed by a husband who saw his wife as someone who needed his love and care?  Perhaps he funded her business enterprises, and in doing so gave himself and his children a happy life and helped the woman fulfill her own ministry before God.

Too many of us Christian men have abdicated our responsibility to our wives. I am the first to admit my sins in this area.  I am working hard to correct this.  As another old saying goes, “Better late than never”.

What is it that we Christian men are doing or NOT doing?  First and foremost, we are not loving our wives.  The Scriptures tell us we are to model ourselves after God, who is the essence of love (Ephesians 5:1).  Instead we get involved in immoral behavior, and lead our wives down the primrose path to destruction in the process. 

Many Christian men today are no different than their counterparts who not profess Christ.  They mess around with sex , wrongly handle money and drink like fishes.  The author of Ephesians warns that we Christian men have come out of that dark lifestyle and that  if we follow Christ we should have nothing more to do with it (Ephesians 5:8).

Is it any wonder a lot of women have had it with men? Did you ever wonder why the Bible tells men to love their wives, but for the women to to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33)?  Maybe it’s because so many men are not worthy of respect.

Sure, women are sinners too.  But Christian men are accountable to God for leading their wives, especially in their relationship with God.  Instead of being the agents of the sins of our wives, we Christian men ought to be the reason why they are walking with God.

A great New Year’s resolution is to make the success of our wives a priority. We should spend our time over the holiday thinking about how to do that instead of getting soused or doing online trading.

^“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)…”

One day in my English class we were discussing proverbs.  I mentioned the old American saying, “If mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy” and explained it to my students. I asked them if they had any similar proverbs in their languages. One of my married female international students smiled and said, “Happy wife, happy life!” 

This student knew what she was talking about.  Her saying is echoed in Proverbs 31.  In this passage, some sayings of a fellow named King Lemuel are written down.  They were taught to him by his  mama.

His mama told him to watch out for loose women and stay away from booze.  She also advised Lemuel to care for the needy.   The epilogue to these proverbs  proclaims the virtues of the woman with noble character.  She is among other things a hard worker and a great businesswoman.  She also ministers to others (Proverbs 31:1-31). 

Is it possible,  in an age in which  women had little rights, that the noble wife was set up to succeed by a husband who saw his wife as someone who needed his love and care?  Perhaps he funded her business enterprises, and in doing so gave himself and his children a happy life and helped the woman fulfill her own ministry before God.

Too many of us Christian men have abdicated our responsibility to our wives. I am the first to admit my sins in this area.  I am working hard to correct this.  As another old saying goes, “Better late than never”.

What is it that we Christian men are doing or NOT doing?  First and foremost, we are not loving our wives.  The Scriptures tell us we are to model ourselves after God, who is the essence of love (Ephesians 5:1).  Instead we get involved in immoral behavior, and lead our wives down the primrose path to destruction in the process. 

Many Christian men today are no different than their counterparts who not profess Christ.  They mess around with sex , wrongly handle money and drink like fishes.  The author of Ephesians warns that we Christian men have come out of that dark lifestyle and that  if we follow Christ we should have nothing more to do with it (Ephesians 5:8).

Is it any wonder a lot of women have had it with men? Did you ever wonder why the Bible tells men to love their wives, but for the women to to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33)?  Maybe it’s because so many men are not worthy of respect.

Sure, women are sinners too.  But Christian men are accountable to God for leading their wives, especially in their relationship with God.  Instead of being the agents of the sins of our wives, we Christian men ought to be the reason why they are walking with God.

A great New Year’s resolution is to make the success of our wives a priority. We should spend our time over the holiday thinking about how to do that instead of getting soused or doing online trading.

We’ve all heard the saying, but tonight we’ll get to experience the first New Year’s Eve Blue Moon in 19 years!   A blue moon has nothing to do with the color of the moon – it simply defines the second full moon in a month.

Do you remember what life was like before you met your spouse?

I do!  I was only 18 at the time, but how I wanted to be married and start a family.  I had no idea that Tom was just over the horizon, and we would soon be together.  It was very much like the full moon tonight – he took my breath away.  Actually, he infused life into my soul – and “I talked his head off”, as he says with a smile.  Amazingly, he still loves to hear me talk.  Our love came along unexpectedly like “once in a blue moon”.

The next New Year’s Blue Moon won’t occur until 2028 – 19 years away.  Imagine what your love will look like then?  This year we celebrated our 30th anniversary!  We’ll be on the eve of our 50th wedding anniversary in 2028, if God allows us to live so long.  I look forward to dancing with Tom to this ageless song as I hold Him close thanking God for another year to love him and share life with him!

NOTE:  I found this perpetual Full Moon Calendar to see if the month you and your spouse met was a Blue Moon month.  Ours wasn’t literally, but it certainly was in our hearts!  Happy New Year, and thank you for being a part of our Vineyard family.

* Figure out what God want me to do with my life
* Lose 19kgs
* Get active
* Try new things, like camping.
* Remember why I love the man I married, and why I married the man I love.
* See more of this beautiful country.
* Be more creative and crafty so that I can manage to stay sane at my job.
* Save money
* Trust the Lord instead of worrying
* Take the advice a very wise old man gave me over Christmas…

If you are looking at this blog it is apparent to you that I am a Plain woman. This has nothing to do with standards of beauty. I dress in simple, layered, monochromatic clothes, my hair is long, uncut, and pinned up, and I wear an unadorned white cotton bonnet called a prayer cap. You won’t see my legs, and my feet are ensconced in ankle high boots. It’s about as unsexy as I can get.

My husband, Nicholas, was watching television last night. (We were watching “Canada’s Worst Handyman,” a competition to see if five very untrained people can learn basic home maintenance skills. Some can, some can’t. I’ve learned some things myself.) A commercial for the Olympics in Vancouver came on the screen. “She looks like you!” Nicholas says. “Who? Where?” I asked. “That one, the one with the dark hair.”

I could not see any resemblance between myself and a cartoon Olympiad in athletic clothing. “No, I don’t look like that.” He was getting a little frustrated with me. “Yes, like that.” “No, sweetie, maybe years ago…”

“That’s how I remember you,” he said, which was sad, since he lost some vision and some memories with the stroke.

“But I don’t look like that now,” I said. “I certainly wouldn’t look like that in those clothes. I’m just a middle-aged Plain woman now.”

“But that’s beautiful,” he said. “I think you are just as beautiful now as when you were an athlete.”

And, friends, it doesn’t get better than that. I’ve got a few extra pounds keeping me warm; the hair is decidedly streaked with silver; some days the knees, hips and feet ache, a legacy of that athletic past. Still, the most important man in my world doesn’t just tell me I’m beautiful. He knows it. He means it.

The slim, dark-haired, blue-eyed runner I once was may have been physically beautiful, but my spiritual beauty hadn’t fully emerged. Prayer, humility and some tough breaks in life have deepened that beauty, so that my partially blind husband can see me inside, not just the shell the world sees. That counts for more than anything.

I couldn’t have reached this point in my life with strength if I hadn’t chosen the Plain way. If my appearance and public approval of me had been more important than following my Lord, my conscience and my heart, I would have fallen away. If the mirror had held too much of my attention, I would have neglected more important things.

Plain is a gift from God. Don’t turn away from that gift when it is offered to you as a Christian. It improved my soul’s strength, and I believe it is a way of life that could strengthen our world.

Marriage is a dilemma.   If one wants to save money and other wants to spend, there has to be one winner and one loser.  There is no way both partners can win.  If one hates to travel and the other loves to travel, it’s a dilemma.  Can’t do both.    If one partner likes to keep family matters private and the other likes to be open about things, someone has to lose.

The real problem is that the loser usually makes the winner pay a price.  That way both partners lose.  The loser on a core issue may complain, criticize or portray his or her partner as a control freak to others.  This creates a new set of problems, of hurt feelings and broken trust.

No one  feels loved when this cycle is happening.  You need to learn how to solve The Marriage Dilemma.

Go to www.marriagedilemma.com and find a Christian-based answer that worked for my wife and I.  I believe it can work for any couple who is committed to marriage for life and who is open to a spiritually anchored, Christian solution.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows
James 1:17 NIV

We have heard if from the time were were children. This is the season of gift giving. In both the Christian holiday of Christmas and the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, the practice of giving gifts is the highlight in many of our eyes.

We spend months, days, and hours online and at the mall seeking the perfect gift. One drive by the local shopping center, this time of year, will confirm the importance of this aspect to the majority of people.

Every year, my wife and I struggle to determine the wishes of our children and grandchildren. The task gets harder each year due to the increasing advances in technology and the ever expanding stores of goods acquired by each of us.

We live in an increasingly material society. We have need for little and even less tolerance for, what we see as, marginal quality. We expect to be entertained or lavished upon by our gift givers.

Gift giving permeates out lives. We give gifts at work, at school, at church, at lunch with our friends, not to mention the gifting with our family.

It seems we have become masters of gift giving, but for what purpose?

The problem comes when we turn to the other side of this equation. The side that involves receiving.

We have so much of everything, we soon become insensitive to our role in receiving.

We all know the feeling, when a gift is given, that is not exactly what the recipient wanted. The reaction is evident in their eyes. The gift is destine to be re-gifted.

The rejection of a given gift is probably the greatest gift giving fear we have.

Some years ago, I worked in a joint venture company, between American and Japanese companies. The practice of bringing a gift was a very important part of doing business with our Japanese partners. During any visit it was important that a gift was brought to the host. Although the gift was graciously received, it was considered inappropriate to open it in front of the giver. If for some reason you did not like the gift, it would be impossible to hide your dissatisfaction. By not opening the gift in front of the giver they were spared the embarrassment of having to apologize.

How many of us would knowingly bring reject a gift? How many of us would take it one step further and never open the gift? I would guess the answer would be few.

Yet, on a daily basis, and especially at this time of year, many of us do just that.

We celebrate the greatest gift ever given. The birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

Year after year the battle rages about taking Christ our of Christmas. Eventually we bow to the wishes of others and greet them with “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings”. We remove the baby from the manger.

The greatest gift ever given remains unopened in the hearts of men and women throughout the world. We reject the grace and mercy of a loving God. A God who was willing to give all of Himself, that we would no longer taste the disappointment of the creations of our fellow man, both emotional and spiritual.

At this time of year, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This year take it one more step, receive the gift that He has given. The gift of His son Jesus Christ. Bring a change into your life that you never thought possible.

You will experience the blessings of the full gift giving cycle. The blessings of giving and receiving.

Merry Christmas

Dave

So much to do, so little time. I feel like that’s my motto right now. I feel like I’m lost in this endless battle of time. When I finally have a minute to relax, the last thing I feel like doing is writing. I can’t even think of what to write about. Is it a case of writer’s block, holiday blues or just the regular stresses of life?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but this time of year always stresses me out. I enjoy giving gifts to others, although trying to find the perfect gift can be down right impossible. People can only have so many candles, lotion, blankets, shirts, and lip glosses given to them in one Christmas. And then on top of all the shopping, you have to wrap everything. But it’s not just the holidays that bring me down.

When I had Ryan a little over a year ago, I was always happy. Not much could dampen my spirits. Well, except when my hormones were going crazy after being pregnant. Overall though, things felt like they were positive. Now it seems that everything is difficult. I’m sure it’s just a phase I’m going through, but it sure makes it tough on the family.

When I was in my early twenties, people would always tell me that I was patient. Maybe that was because I chose teaching children as a profession, not because they actually saw me in action being patient. As the years went on, I could feel my patience decrease little by little. But these days, I don’t think I have a patient bone in my body. This has led to many fights with my husband. He gets so frustrated with my words and actions. I ask him to do something and if he doesn’t answer me right away, I tell him to forget it. I try to control myself and not get annoyed, but I can’t help myself. How can I live the rest of my life always snapping at everyone or being annoyed by them?

I need to turn to God. He is the only one I can turn to for help. He will be there to guide me in the right direction when I fail and to wipe the dirt off my knees when I fall. God is always there. I haven’t went to Him yet for my impatience problem. You know what they say, be careful what you pray. If you pray for patience, God will give you more situations to break you down, so He can build you up again. He will build you into an even better, stronger, and more loving person than you were before. And that’s what I hope for myself. It’s too hard to do life alone. So I choose to do it with Him. I hope you all can pray for me and that you too will look to God to help guide you in this crazy thing called life.

It is not as outrageous as one might think but an integral part of God’s plan for all humankind. The Comforter is also our Reprover (KJV) or the Spirit of Conviction. He’s the little white guy the cartoonist’s will draw on your shoulder, whispering in your ear, imploring you to come to Christ or do the right thing while the little red fella urges you to break out and do evil instead.

John 16:7-11 (ESV)

7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for(A) if I do not go away,(B) the Helper will not come to you. But(C) if(D) I go,(E) I will send him to you. 8(F) And when he comes, he will(G) convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin,(H) because they do not believe in me; 10(I) concerning righteousness,(J) because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11(K) concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world(L) is judged.

 He has His work cut out for him; he has to convince us, convict us, and convey to us our faults. That is a tall order; he is commissioned by God to be brimming with bad news. What is the good news? He already made a way of escape and if you will but listen, He will lead you into all truth. Sometimes, the truth will hurt. The light dispels darkness but when you have lived in the dark a long time, the light hurts your eyes.

The more a soul gets used to walking in the light, the kinder the light becomes, our eyes adjust, and that darkness – well, it is what it is. The only difference now is that since shedding some light on the subject you see just how deep, how opaque, and dismal that black nothingness is and wonder why you stayed for so long. This is only possible through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

If you struggle with walking in the Light, you have to ask yourself, “Are you really a child of God?” If you are, why does following Him present such a problem for you? Why is it more comfortable for you to walk in darkness? Are you truly a child of light? You don’t have to share that answer with anyone but God. You do not have to share that on this blog. Instead, I ask you to share your hearts with God today. The matter is personal and the answer is between you and Jesus.

The Christian life is never easy; the promise of joy in the morning is our blessed hope but that time is not yet come. Separation and sacrifice are essential parts of our Christian walk (Romans 12:1,2). No amount of haggling with God will change those commandments.

If more than one way existed to win God’s favor, the Bible would contain that information. Instead, it tells us there is but one way, which is through Christ Jesus and His finished work on Calvary (John 14:6). Without repentance there is no remission of sin (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Luke 24:47). If loving God and keeping His commandments was optional, He would have communicated as such. On the contrary, we read in John 3:5 that we must be “born of water and of the spirit.”

Why those two commandments you ask? Recall Christ’s words later when he said, “…if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31,32 KJV).” Which is also why he asked, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord but do not do what I tell you (Luke 6:46).”

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11).”

God’s Word tells us the believer should be like Christ, not the world. We should obey the Lord, keep His commandments, and walk in His love if we are His children.

“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes (Luke 6:44).” Folks may wonder what that means. In plain English, it means you cannot witness to the guy next to you sitting in a bar. You cannot glorify God while patronizing a strip club. A woman has no business looking into the eyes of another woman’s husband and expect to find love and God’s will for her life. The Lord will not bless your sin. He will not honor unions born out of deception and cheating. He honors those relationships formed by His love and righteousness. This is what the Lord blesses. Don’t expect to find good when you have sown evil. Without repentance there is no remission of sin.

The Spirit of Conviction

“…And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment”

The Greek word for “reprove” or “convict” in the text is “elegeho” and means to admonish, confute, convict, or reprove. How does the heart come upon repentance? It is a work of the Holy Spirit. One of His primary ministries is to convince you, convict you of your sin, and convey to you your faults that you might make things right with God.

He is that pesky little white guy on your right shoulder; when He comes knocking there will be no rest for your soul until you answer one question: what are you going to do about Jesus? He will keep knocking until you answer. He passionately pursues the souls who are lost; he wants none to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

The sin spoken of in this passage is the universal sin of rejection of Christ, the Son of God, as the Messiah. It is not the several commissions of sin but the universal rejection of Him that creates the chasm between man and a loving God who only wishes to redeem lost soul and restore you to His bosom (John 3:16-18).

Does it not stand to reason that if the Spirit indwells you then His presence in your life should be evident? Should I have to go looking for you in a bar? Is that where the Holy Spirit prefers to abide? No, He does not prefer bars and brothels, which is why believers are usually uncomfortable in those places. The Spirit within you becomes uneasy; God is not pleased when we return to our former lives to do things that do not bring glory to Him or honor to us. Should I search for you on the corner looking to score a dime? Would the Spirit be there? Oh, He might be there gently urging a non-believer to lay down those vices and come to Christ but He’s not asked you to tag along. He is there performing heart surgery and the last thing he needs is a carnal interruption like you in the wrong place at the wrong time.There are a few instances of repentance in God’s Word, which are:

The Crowd at Pentecost (Acts 2:22; Acts 2:37)

The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:29-38)

Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-6)

Cornelius, the Centurion (Acts 10:44)

Philippian Jailor (Acts 16:25-34)

Governor Felix (Acts 24:24, 25)

King Agrippa (Acts 26:23-28)

He knows that this soul seeing a professing believer there might cause him not to answer the Spirit when He calls. They might believe God approves, or passes over, their sin which takes away the expediency of the issue. They might delay their decision to come to Christ like Felix and Agrippa; they could be one shot of heroin away from life or death. Did your poor witness alter their course? Don’t have that blood on your hands, friend. Even worse, they might be so sickened by the presence of a so-called Christian that their heart will be hardened forever…and lost…to a fate that originally was reserved for the devil and his angels.

The Comforter is also the Reprover, which is a separate ministry regarding sin and the sinner. The messenger of the Holy Spirit, those who act on behalf of the Spirit, doing the work to which God has called them, has a good chance of getting shot in these scenarios. People love to shoot the messenger when the message does not suit them. It is much easier for them to blame the person rather than God. It’s easier to call your friend judgmental when the message pricks your heart than to consider that message may have come from God just for you (and that person’s mouth was just a vehicle to reach you).

The Spirit of Conviction then is the alter-ego of the Comforter. You may ask, “Does the Holy Spirit have two personalities?” No, He does not but He has many ministries. Each ministry fulfills part of God’s divine plan for humankind and shows how much He loves us and wishes to dwell among us. Without conviction, no one would know there is none righteous save Christ Jesus (Romans 3:10). Without conviction, there would be no repentance. Without conviction, no one would realize God loved them enough to send His son to die and the life they now live is unacceptable before a holy God. There is no love without honesty; there is no love without justice.  That means sin has a price, folks.  If it didn’t then God would not be a just God and deal fairly with all men according to their deeds.

They need a Savior; his name is Jesus. If they confess him and repent of their sin, He will grant them everlasting life and adopt them into His divine family (Mark 10:34; Romans 10:9). Without conviction, we cannot be introduced to divine love and provision for our souls. Before we can find rest in the Comforter, we must be convicted of our sin that we might repent and also be able to cry, “Abba Father!”

How is that broken and yielded soul formed? The Holy Spirit pricks the heart (Acts 2:37) and imparts the longing to follow Christ and do all you can to win others. This is a direct result of the Holy Spirit within you, working in your life, that you might be a witness who glorifies your Father in Heaven (Acts 1:8). The Spirit of Conviction also convinces the soul (John 8:46) and makes your faults known to you through admonition or rebuke (Matthew 18:15; Romans 15:14). Sometimes, the Spirit can come in the form of another believer. Their openness may allow the Spirit to work through them and bear a message to you (I Corinthians 4:14). They could be your parents: “…but bring them up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).” At other times, it could be the Holy Spirit coming upon you through diligent study of His Word.

Colossians 3:16

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

I Thessalonians 5:14

“Now, we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, and be patient with all men.”

2 Thessalonians 3:14,15

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, not that man, and have no In with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet, count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother.”

Titus 3:10

A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject.”

In Romans 6:12-14 we are urged, “Don’t let sin reign, rise up, and live unto Christ, not yourselves.” Continuing through verses 15 to 23, we understand that our lifestyle tells the whole world about our preferences, believes, and goals in this life. We learn that we are not our own but have become ‘servants of righteousness’ (Romans 6:18). The best example is the apostle Paul as he was once a slave to the law and a persecutor of Christians. Later, Paul converts and becomes a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of Righteousness

As the Holy Spirit is God’s ambassador to Earth now, we see He does not merely emulate righteousness for humankind. He is righteousness, demands our righteousness, and provides righteousness to a lost and dying world.

Psalm 97:1-2

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad.

Clouds and darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” (see also Isaiah 51:8)

Proverbs 21:21

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 41:34

Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.

Additional Scriptures for Study:

Romans 1:17; 3:22; 5:21; 5:17; 8:4; 10:3; 10:9

Philippians 3:9

Hosea 10:12

I John 2:29; 3:7

2 Cor. 5:21

Eph. 5:9, 6:14

Gal. 2:21

Tim. 6:11

2 Tim. 2:22

Titus 3:5

Hebrews 11:7,33

James 1:20

2 Peter 3:13,14

Isaiah 59:16-21; 60:11-22; 61:1-3; 64:4-6

Revelation 19:8

The Spirit of Future Judgment

In keeping with the Spirit of Conviction, the Holy Spirit is there to inform you that judgment awaits those who reject Christ and share the following truths according to Promise.

1. The Unsaved belong to Satan (John 8:44).

2. Satan’s Doom is in Progress (Romans 16:20).

3. The Unsaved Share Satan’s Doom (Matthew 25:41).

It is these three truths that serve as the primary reason the Holy Spirit’s chief ministry is the conviction of our souls, to prompt repentance for the remission of sin, that all may not perish but have everlasting life.

Once saved, we should live unto Christ not ourselves.

“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:19-21 KJV).”

Be blessed and I look forward to sharing the next lesson with you!

– T.D.