OMG and the 3rd Commandment

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

— Exodus 20:7

        Every now and then we hear people saying, "O My God" or "OMG!" Is it okay for a Christian to say those? The 3rd Commandment forbids us to take the name of our God Yahweh in vain. Even if this weren't found in the 10 Commandments, doesn't our common sense tell us not to use the name of whom we love, respect, fear in vain? Non-Christians may say whatever they like, because their 'God' is not our Yahweh, they never know Him. But for a Christian when he says 'God' that's none other than the biblical God, Yahweh!

        Abusing God's name is abusing God's character. Claiming to speak for God, but speaking one's agenda is abusing the name of God. Professing to be a Christian (a child of God) and living a sinful life blasphemes the name of God. Swearing by the name of God is invoking the character of God, who is the supreme being of the Universe. Even in real life, the High Court or the Supreme Court of the earth is the last place we want to settle our dispute, why, O why invoke the name of the Supreme Judge for petty issues?

        However, there are perfect occasions where we may even say "Oh! My God" with reverence in prayer. Blurting out in funny instances or even in a surprising situation is a misuse. We do not shout out our name or the names of those we respect and love in such instances saying, “O My ___,” it doesn’t sound good or right. May we revere our God! If it is not a reaction to invoke the mercy or any help of God, it is to use the name of God in vain.

        God demands that we honor Him, worship Him, serve Him, and live for His glory. A life that doesn't honor God and that does not give Him the glory is a sinful life; it invites the wrath of God. None can deliver us from the wrath of God. Let us fear and tremble before Him. Have you ever misused the name of God, misrepresented God, invoked the name of God in vain? Ask for forgiveness and commit yourself to not do them anymore!

DIAGNOSING TEMPTATION

All kinds of temptations fall under 3 categories mentioned in 1John 2:16. "Desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, pride of life!"

3 Temptations of Jesus corroborates that! (Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus won victoriously!

The temptations of Eve in the Garden of Eden is another elucidation! (Genesis 3:6) Eve failed miserably!

Many times the desires of the flesh are the desires of the heart! Because as Jeremiah said that the heart is deceitful above all things. It was right for Jesus to satisfy his hunger! His reply was "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

Our desires (ambitions, plans, pursuits), which look noble, blessed, great and morally sound could be just a temptation sometimes!

We live by every word of God, not just clinging to one verse of the Bible! Suffering, sorrows, failings, etc. are equally God's plan as victory, joy, and progressions are.

Greater Reasons to Cherish Christ - Charles Spurgeon

Be exceedingly glad - Charles Spurgeon

Does the Devil make you sin?

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”  James 1:14-15

Summarize in a Word: Does the Devil make you sin?

Main point of the Passage: You are responsible for your sin!

Illustration: Young man struggling with Pornography

Exhortation: Be humbled knowing you are responsible for your sin. But be encouraged knowing you can overcome in the Spirit.

TMAI  Promotional Issue: By John Doe

These verses lay out for us the complete cycle of personal sin—from beginning to end. To defeat sin, we must understand it properly and, yet, sadly there is much false teaching today on the nature and origin of our sin. So where does my sin come from? Does God tempt me to sin? Or maybe the saying is true that “the devil made me do it?”

James 1:13 tells us that God never tempts us to sin and our verse today starkly refutes the false notion that Satan can make us sin. Instead, the only person responsible for your sin is…you. Satan cannot make you sin. He can tempt you, he can accuse you, he can dangle the fish hook of sin in front of your mouth, but he cannot force you to take the bait. This verse puts the responsibility for sin squarely on our own shoulders. But it also clarifies a major misunderstanding for many believers.

I personally witnessed the hopelessness and fear that a young man had because of his wrong understanding of sin. Struggling with pornography, he believed that Satan had the power to force him into this sin. He was fearful of what he saw as a sovereign devil. However, when he understood that the sin in his life was a result of his own lust, he then could deal with the issue at its root—his own heart.

Be humbled by the reality that your sin is born out of your own lust. But be encouraged knowing that if you walk by the Spirit, you will not carry out the desire [lust] of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).

Thanks for the time of Reflection,

R. Solomon

(Today’s Friday Issue is taken out from upcoming TMAI Devotional Writing from Pastors across the Globe. If you enjoy the styles and contents, you may want to buy when it is released.)

With Charles Spurgeon: Song of Songs 3:1

 “I sought him, but I found him not.” – Song of Songs 3:1

Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find Him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures.

It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there." So look for Christ where you lost Him, for He has not gone away. But it is hard work to go back for Christ. Bunyan tells us, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbour of Ease, where he lost his roll, the hardest he had ever travelled. Twenty miles onward is easier than to go one mile back for the lost evidence.

Take care, then, when you find your Master, to cling close to Him. But how is it you have lost Him? One would have thought you would never have parted with such a precious friend, whose presence is so sweet, whose words are so comforting, and whose company is so dear to you! How is it that you did not watch Him every moment for fear of losing sight of Him? Yet, since you have let Him go, what a mercy that you are seeking Him, even though you mournfully groan, "O that I knew where I might find Him!"

Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord. Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest-not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek Him, and He will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover Him to thy joy and gladness.

Thanks for the time of Reflection,

R. Solomon

(This Devotional Reflection Issue is an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon's Devotional “Morning and Evening: Daily Readings.”)

Are you a mature Christian?

“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all (aspects) into Him who is the head, (even) Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16

Summarize in a Word: Growth to Maturity

Key Principle: Truth and Love is inseparable for Christian Growth

Key Application: We must be brave to confront at the same time be loving

Main point of the Passage: The Scripture says that the result of Christ calling us out from sin is to demonstrate Love and Speaking the truth. It is the mark of Christian Maturity.

Illustration: Lack of Maturity in Indian Churches

Exhortation: Make sure to season your speech with love.

          Everybody wants to get matured. God wants us to get matured too, no longer to be childish in Christian walk. The results of Christ calling us out from sins and giving gifts to His Church is for maturity. One may ask what maturity looks like. And this passage answers us that the characteristic of a mature Christian is speaking the truth in love under the lordship of Christ.

Indeed, there are few things which are difficult to practice in our Christian life than to speak the truth boldly (without compromise), and to love. It is not easy either in Church or at work-place. However, these are the very virtues Christ possess in the most hostile environment to the point of dying for the hostile sinner.

There is no Christian growth without truth and love going hand in hand. I have seen over the years in Churches of India that Truth without love drives away people from Church, and Love without truth does not transform the Church. Thus there is no growth and no maturity.

We who are born again of the Spirit are to grow up like Christ, following the Master practicing truth and love irrespective of circumstances even if it cost us our lives. Are you a mature disciple of Christ? Do you speak the truth in love? We often confront people saying, “I want to tell you this in love. . . ” Next time before you say, ask yourself, “Am I really seasoning with love?” As one pastor says (Wiersbe), “Truth without love is brutality; Love without truth is hypocrisy.”

Unpardonable Sin: Can All Sin be Forgiven?

“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.” Matthew 12:31 

Summarize in a Word: Rejection

Key Principle: Deliberate Rejection of the Work of the Spirit is doomed to Eternal Hell.

Key Application: Let us be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit.

Main point of the Passage: Unpardonable Sin is committed when one deliberately reject the work of the Spirit or the testimony of the Spirit concerning Christ. The one who commits this sin has reached to the point of no return thus sealing himself doom to eternal hell.

Illustration: Judas Iscariot apostasy

Exhortation: Be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit

Have you got trouble with unpardonable sin? Many people do because Jesus talks about the impossibility of forgiveness of this sin. In other words, those who commit this sin seal themselves to eternal doom. By the way, there is no comfort in sinning at all. Each of our sins we know of should trouble us enough into confession and repentance for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

Grace-life

“… join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,” – 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Summarize in a Word: Grace-life

Key Principle: We demonstrate God’s Grace deeper when we live for the One who died for us

Illustration: My friend stood strong against a mob attack

Exhortation: Be a witness of Christ wherever you live.

Sponsor Issue: Contributed by Pastor Daril Gona, MBC, Mumbai

Every breadth that humans take proves that our creator is gracious. But God’s grace towards His elects is way grandeur; in Christ, He gives them eternal life when they deserve eternal death.

By the grace of God, we are saved. As we are infinitely incapable of saving ourselves from our sins (Eph2:1), God sent His beloved Son to save us (Matt1:21). Christ is the channel for God’s grace. This grace in Christ was granted for us in eternity. Which means you and I could repent and believe in Jesus because God in eternity sealed our salvation in Christ. When we truly understand how sinful we are, we start understanding God’s grace. 

God saved us and called us to a holy life. We are saved to serve God, to be His witnesses in all circumstances. Everyone can profess Christian faith in the church, but only a true disciple of Jesus can profess his faith in the midst of sufferings.

I was personally encouraged by my friend’s faith when he stood strong in persecution with the power of God. When a mob attacked him for being a believer, he could have denied but he didn’t. He prayed to the Father “Lord, this life is yours, let your will be done”. God who empowered us to be saved will also empower us to suffer for the gospel.

Are you living for the one who died for you? Living for self is a sin as we ought to live for God. The more we understand the grace of God, the more we would want to please God. Be a witness of Christ wherever you live.

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Thanks for the time of Reflection,

R. Solomon

(This issue is contributed by my Friend, Daril Gona, Pastor, Mumbai Bible Church, Mumbai, He is an alumnus of Pastoral Training Seminary, Goa (2018). Please pray for his ministry and for him to get a godly wife soon! cf. Proverbs 19:14; 18:22)

Does Heaven shut its Door to You?

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” – Daniel 10:13 [NASB]

Summarize in a Word: Spiritual Warfare

Key Principle: God’s Grace is Greater than Satan’s Scheme

Key Application: Have courage in the Grace of God.

Main point of the Passage: Despite Satan’s influences upon the earth, God’s grace sustains the universe through the active working of His angels.

Illustration: Daniel’s Prayer

Exhortation: Keep waiting on God. Be of good courage!

This passage reveals the reality of on-going spiritual warfare which we do not notice. Despite Satan’s influences upon the earth, God’s grace sustains the universe through the active working of His angels. Christians are with angels in this battle, and non-Christians are under the influence of the demonic force (Eph. 2:2)

Spiritual Fruitfulness

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22 -23

Summarize in a Word: Spiritual Fruitfulness

Key Principle: Christian ought to Bear Much Spiritual Fruit

Key Application: We must keep on walking in the Spirit

Main point of the Passage: We can overcome Sin and have Spiritual Fruitfulness when we continuously walk in the Spirit.

Illustration: Charismatic wave of seeking miraculous gift instead of fruit in Manipur

Exhortation: Remember what Christ has done for you and demonstrate the Fruit in your life too towards other!

We all want to overcome sin and live a spiritually fruitful life. Don’t we? Many times, we make strategies and resolution but fail to live out victoriously. This passage tells us to keep walking in the Spirit because it is the Spirit that bears fruit in us: Love, Joy Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. What a package of Virtues! In Lord Jesus Christ we see all these virtues in fullness.

Why I blog "With the Word" series

In my school days, I loved reading Our Daily Bread (popularly known as ODB) produced by Radio Bible Class (RBC) ministries. It was a devotional calendar-style booklet arranged for the whole year. Year after year, I would save money or ask my parents to buy for me this precious devotional book. Each morning before I step out of my bed I would be reading and would be praying after it.

I was so devoted to reading this book that one of my friends used to make fun of me saying, “ODB to him is like a medicine to a patient of cysticercosis.” (We grew up with that disease around us. Doctors would prescribe a tablet and syrup instructing us sternly to ingest before we step out of bed.) There were times I would like to get into the washroom, but I would not unless I completed the daily reading schedule of ODB. I was so passionate about reading it because it blessed my soul very much. I would even promote it by giving as Birthday gifts or Christmas presents to others.

With Charles Spurgeon: Eccl. 9:4

“A living dog is better than a dead lion.” – Ecclesiastes 9:4

Life is a precious thing, and in its humblest form it is superior to death. This truth is eminently certain in spiritual things. It is better to be the least in the kingdom of heaven than the greatest out of it. The lowest degree of grace is superior to the noblest development of unregenerate nature. Where the Holy Ghost implants divine life in the soul, there is a precious deposit which none of the refinements of education can equal.

Pursuing Excellence

“So that you may approve the things that are excellent” – Philippians 1:10

Summarize in a Word: Pursuing Excellence

Illustration: Pilot and the directionless flight

Exhortation: Look at your life. Is it filled with… virtues?

Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God to give you a heart constantly set on pursuing excellence for His glory.

Guest Author: John F. MacArthur

There's the story of a pilot who came on the loudspeaker mid-flight and said, "I have some good news and bad news. The bad news is we've lost all our instrumentation and don't know where we are. The good news is we have a strong tail wind and are making great time." That's an accurate picture of how many people live: they have no direction in life but they're getting there fast!

What is your Pursuit?

 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” – Philippians 3:8 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: What is your pursuit?

Key Principle: Christ surpasses everything!

Key Application: Pursue Christ

Main point of the Passage: Anything and everything apart from Christ is Rubbish.

Illustration: Paul’s worldly achievement as dung

Exhortation: Think about the riches, glories, and power of Christ for those who pursue Him.

All of us are in pursuit of something in life. We live on earth, we must work for our living; but we must be more concerned about our eternal living. There are many means to live on earth morally or immorally, poorly or richly; but there is only one means to live eternally – through Jesus Christ. Our life on earth looks pale in all measures in comparison to eternal life.

Desiring the word of God.

“like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” – 1 Peter 2:2 (NASB)

Summarize in a Word: Desiring the word of God.

Key Principle: God’s word is necessary for our spiritual growth.

Key Application: Absorb the word of God

Main point of the Passage: God grants spiritual growth through His word.

Illustration: Newborn babies require milk for growth.

Exhortation: Would you just not taste, but would you eat the whole counsel God?

It is one thing to know the importance of reading Bible, but what really matters is reading the Bible actually. Apostle Peter in 1Peter 2:2 goes further: he commanded us to desire the undiluted word of God as a life source. Bible reading is not for self-satisfaction; neither for achievement nor to raise up hands when somebody asks, “How many of you read Bible this week?” Peter wants us to go beyond reading and even studying. It is to be craved, to be desperately in need of; to be ingested, to be digested. Do you hunger and thirst for God’s word?

We are born again through the word of God (1Pet 1:23). The word of God operated internally in our minds, hearts, and souls. We understand, affirm and response to the word of God. In the process, we have tasted the power of the word of God, which is the grace of God. Like every newborn babe needs a milk for growth, true Christian who is born again requires spiritual milk for his growth, which is the word of God. Would you just not taste, but would you eat the whole counsel of God, (like Psalm 1:2) meditating upon it day and night?

It is a pure word of God– unblended, unmixed, not compromised, nor adjusted. How often do we tone down the word of God? How often have we considered the commandment as a suggestion, obligation as optional to cope our sins? We must obey the word of God for as it is – all of it, the hard truth and the hard commandment! That includes repentance and delight in God!

Good Friday

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” – John 3:17 (NKJV)

Summarize in a Word: Message of the Cross

Key Principle: Today is the day of Salvation

Key Application: Proclaim the message of the Cross

Main point of the Passage: There are two inevitable effects of the message of the Cross – Judgment, and Salvation. Behold! Now is the time of Salvation.

Exhortation: Would you please proclaim the message of the Cross anyhow by print, voice, or pictures and most importantly by your lives?

Good Friday is about the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is not the Cross itself that matters, but the message of the Cross. Jesus was nailed to death bearing the wrath of God upon himself, that which is supposedly ours. It is true that God created each one of us in His image, but we (all) have become corrupted because of sin. Even our own personal sins reveal that we (all) have failed the standard of God. None can help us for all are in need of help. Nor can we help each other to overcome, for none can bear his own haplessness. We (all) need an able helper, the Savior who will take away our sins, and reconcile us to God.

God in his exceeding love sent Jesus Christ, the very God in human flesh, perfect and holy to save us from the wrath of God, and from our own slavery to sins. Jesus Christ completed His mission by bearing the wrath of God at the Cross. Moreover, He sent Holy Spirit to set us free from the penalty and power of sins.

John 3:17 reveals to us the two inevitable effects of the message of the Cross for everyone (no matter who, what, when, and where you are): Judgement or Salvation. Those (and only those) who keeps clinging to the message of the Cross will be saved from the Judgment of God and power of Sin. Those who neglect or reject the message of the Cross will fall into the Judgment of God when Jesus comes back as the Judge of the Universe (cf. John 5:27; Acts 17:31).

Good Friday is not to condemn sinners to hell; it is to save sinners. However, none of us has any ability to condemn nor to save any sinner. It is the prerogative of God. We are to proclaim the message of God – the coming Judgment, and the presently offered Salvation. For, there is no mercy and no salvation when the Day of Judgment comes. Behold! Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of Salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Sinners, are you delivered from the wrath of God (to come) and the power of sins (presently enslaving you)? Would you please consider the message of the Cross and be saved? Redeemed-Saints, do you live worthy of Salvation (Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:1)? And would you please proclaim the message of the Cross that saved you? If and since it saves sinners like us, it can save anyone who believes. Don’t you think today is the best day for sinners to be saved? Would you proclaim today anyhow by print, voice, or pictures and most importantly by your lives?

The Great Redemption

“being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” – Romans 3:24 (NKJV)

Summarize in a Word: The Great Redemption

Key Principle: Justification is through redemption alone

Key Application: Cherish the gospel

Main point of the Passage: We are made right with God freely because Christ paid for it dearly.

Illustration: Professing Christians bored with Gospel

Exhortation: Thank God for the (free) gift of divine Salvation

One of the challenges of preaching the gospel to our community is that almost everybody “understood” what gospel is. We can define the Gospel factually – the birth and death, and resurrection of Christ for our sins according to the scripture. We even profess to believe it but hardly live out its fruit. Everybody claims to be Christian by birth, but (many) with either false assurance or no assurance. They look beyond the gospel for assurance. To them, to listen to gospel again has become boring. Gospel looks very dry, simple, cheap, available and irrelevant. Some think they “know gospel enough” for them to escape hell, whereas other people think Christ will let them enter heaven if they continue to live a moral life, and attend church, and pray for forgiveness.

In Romans 3:24, we see very clearly for the basis of our assurance.  Sinners those who put their trust in the redemption accomplished through Christ are justified freely before God. That means he is counted righteous before God. His sins are forgiven. It also means he has peace with God, being reconciled to God. Justification is free in the sense we do not do anything in order to be justified. No works of human – good works, penances, sacrifices, fasting, religious duties – nothing we do can justify us. It is the sheer grace of God.

However, it is neither cheap nor frivolous, because it takes Jesus Christ to justify us. He bore the wrath of God, which was ours to redeem us from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin. Apart from Christ, there is no mercy and deliverance of God. Once we were under the slavery of sin, darkness, guilt, spiritual deadness, spiritual slumber, and under Satan. Christ bought us with His blood to set us free that we might live in holiness, light, assurance, eternal life as children of God. We are made right with God freely because Christ paid for it dearly.

God does not justify us because we know the Gospel intellectually. It is for those who put their faith in the person and work of Christ, being conscious of their sins and the justice of God. There is never a moment we stop needing the gospel. Gospel (Justification) is not just about deliverance from hell but also from the practice of sins to repentance and holiness. Thank God for the gift of divine Salvation. Cherish the gospel of the great redemption.

Cultivating Godliness

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)

Summarize in a Word: Cultivating Godliness

Key Principle: Church is necessary for all believers

Key Application: Never abandon the church

Main point of the Passage: We provoke one another to godliness in the church.

Illustration: Pastor John MacArthur urging a struggling woman to join a church.

Exhortation: Make friendship with more godly people. Talk, listen, and pray for one another.

Our Lord has called us into the church, which is his body. However, we do have a local church, a fellowship of believers. It is the institution build by Christ with a promise that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” There is no lone Christian outside the church. I remember listening to MacArthur urging a struggling woman to join the club (church) for sanctification and godliness. Where could we go than the church to cultivate godliness in our lives?