Heard From Your Conscience Lately?

“Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity.” – 2 Corinthians 1:12

God has supernaturally and strategically placed an early warning system inside you. It’s called … your conscience.

 

Warren Wiersbe describes it this way: “Conscience is that inner faculty that … approves when we do right, but accuses when we do wrong…. It is the window that lets in the light; and if the window gets dirty because we disobey, then the light becomes dimmer and dimmer (see Matt. 6:22-23; Rom. 2:14-16).”

 

You see, your conscience can change over time. It can become LESS sensitive or MORE sensitive to the light of God’s moral truth – depending, in part, on whether you listen to it or ignore it. Your conscience is vital, but it’s not the final judge of truth or sin – God is. Therefore, it’s vital to wash your conscience every day with the truth from God’s Word. The more you expose your conscience to God’s pure Word and pay attention to it, the more useful your conscience will be.

 

Halfway through the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is defending his apostleship against false teachers. And in verses 12-14, Paul makes it clear that his conscience testifies to three things: his conduct is sincere, his words are trustworthy, and his motives are pure.

 

Can you say the same for yourself? Or could the window of your conscience use some scrubbing? To keep your conscience in good working order, here are 3 action points:

 

Action Point #1: To keep your conscience clear and properly calibrated, spend time every day praying and studying God’s Word. Your conscience is no replacement for the Word of God or for the Holy Spirit living inside you. But make no mistake: Your conscience IS a beautiful and necessary gift from God. So, cleanse it by studying God’s Word and praying every day. The psalmist writes in Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

 

Action Point #2: Pay attention to your conscience, because God uses it to keep both your conduct and your words in check. Evil forces at work in our culture will try to convince you that ignoring your conscience is no big deal. Whatever you’ve been doing that you know you shouldn’t be doing—whether it’s viewing porn, drinking too much or blowing through stop signs — start paying more attention to your conscience. It might be in bad shape from lack of use, but God can give you a new conscience if you’ll ask Him.

 

Action Point #3: Knowing that God will judge the motives of your heart, do a motive check today. As Christians, many of us do good things for the wrong reasons. Sometimes we do good things because it makes us feel good and it makes us look good. But in 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul writes, “Christ’s love compels us.” Can the same be said about you? Check your motives today.

 

If you allow the Word of God to cleanse your conscience and calibrate it to God’s perfect truth, it will speak to you more than ever. And when your conscience starts testifying … listen.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

The God of All Comfort

"For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5

God doesn’t always answer our “Why?” questions. Why do kids get cancer? Why are innocent people killed by stray bullets? Why are entire villages swept away by rising flood waters? We don’t know, and we probably never WILL know … at least not this side of heaven.

 

But in 2 Corinthians 1, God’s Word brings us encouragement and hope by teaching us that God uses our suffering for our good and His glory. In verse 3, Paul describes our God as “the God of all comfort.” But we need to understand that God's comfort is much more than warm sympathy. It's life-changing ... both for us and for those around us. 

 

The Greek word for “comfort” in this passage is “paraklesis,” and it is used 10 times in verses 3-7. “Paraklesis” carries the idea of bringing help, consolation and comfort. in John 14, Jesus uses the verb form of this word, “parakaleo,” as a name for the Holy Spirit – and the Holy Spirit IS our Comforter. When Christians are grieving, He brings us consolation. And when we are suffering, He brings us comfort. He doesn’t necessarily take the pain away, but He holds our hand through the pain and speaks words of encouragement and hope into our hearts.

 

In this passage, we learn 3 ways that the God of all comfort uses your suffering for YOUR good and HIS glory:

 

#1: Suffering prepares you to comfort others (vs. 4-7). If you look past your present hardships, you can focus on how you will be able to help others down the road. This will bring you hope. By God’s grace, as you endure your hardships now, God will equip you to bring comfort later to those who are undergoing the same kind of suffering. The comfort that God gives you when you suffer isn’t intended to end with you. God gives you comfort so that you can pass it on to others.

 

#2: Suffering protects you from the sin of self-reliance (vs 8-9). Stop fighting your pain and hardships alone! Take hold of God’s hand, and walk through your hardships with Him. This will increase your faith. As Paul puts it in verse 9: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” You might think you’re strong enough to do anything you put your mind to. I’m sorry, but you can’t! But God can. So, stop trusting in yourself. Start trusting in God.

 

#3: Suffering provides you with new opportunities to thank God (vs. 10-11). So many good things happen when you and I suffer for Jesus. When we’re going through it, we ask other Christians to pray for us. And when Christians start praying – REALLY praying – it’s good for them, it’s good for us and it brings glory to God. Later, after we’re delivered from our hardships, we have a brand new reason to thank God.

 

Chances are, God won’t answer all your “Why?” questions in this life. But His comfort during times of suffering will increase your hope, faith and peace, which is SO purposeful. So, I can say confidently: If you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, the God of all comfort guarantees that ALL your suffering for Christ is totally meaningful.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Why Did Job Suffer?

“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” – Job 1:22

Most Christians know the story of Job—a man who lost everything, yet still kept his faith in God. Many of us know WHAT Job went through, but we aren’t sure WHY he went through it. Was it just a matter of God winning a bet with Satan, or was there something more to it?

 

In Chapter 1 of Job, our hero has a family he loves, plus plenty of livestock, servants and property. And the Bible describes him as “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (v. 1). So, along comes Satan, telling God that Job would drop his faith like a bad habit if he wasn’t so abundantly blessed.

 

God responds by allowing Satan to do anything he wants to Job short of killing him. By the end of Chapter 2, Job has lost his children, animals, servants and property … plus, he’s covered with sores. Still, he tells his wife, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10).

 

And that line may be the heart of the matter. Looking more closely at Job 1 and 2, I believe this is not primarily a story about a good man who suffered, but a story about a God who is both sovereign and good – even when it feels like our world is crashing down around us.

 

Both Job’s prosperity and his poverty testify to the goodness and power of God. Job’s story reminds us that as followers of Christ, we must hold our possessions loosely, because they’re all God’s anyway. Everything in your possession is just on loan from God … temporarily. To paraphrase verse 21: “Naked we came from our mother’s wombs, and naked we will depart.” So, like Job, we should declare: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

 

Here are 3 life lessons we can draw from Job’s powerful testimony:

 

Life Lesson #1: During times of pain and suffering, remember that God is always sovereign. No one can touch you without God’s permission—especially not Satan. Just because we don’t always understand why bad things happen to good people doesn’t mean that God is weak. When natural disasters strike, when tragedies occur, and people are cruel, God is still on the throne. He remains worthy of our worship and praise.

 

Life Lesson #2: During times of pain and suffering, remember that God is always good. Nothing comes your way except that which can pass through the filter of God’s love for you. 

That truth has given me much peace and comfort over the years. I can almost hear God saying, “Dane, you think what you’re facing right NOW is hard? You should see what Satan had planned for you that I shielded you from.”

 

Life Lesson #3: Satan will continue to accuse you and slander you in God’s presence, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, you can prove him wrong. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you and I can echo what Job says in Job 23:10: “When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” When gold is refined in the fire, only the get burned up and left behind. The same is true for us when we go through trials. What comes out the other side is much better than what went in. Our faith in God is strengthened. Our character is refined. And our priorities are re-aligned.

 

We’ll never have all the answers to all of our “Why?” questions—at least not this side of heaven. But if we respond to our pain and suffering the way Job did, God will reward us for it … and most importantly, God will be glorified as both sovereign AND good. 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

What is a Man?

“So God created man in His own image.” – Genesis 1:27

Nowadays there’s a lot of confusion in our culture about manhood. What is a “man” as opposed to a boy? Is there any difference between being a “man” and simply being a responsible adult? And with so much talk about “gender fluidity,” so-called experts can’t tell us in plain English what a man is. But God’s Word cuts through the confusion and reveals what true manhood looks like.

In the book of Genesis, we read that man and woman were created according to God’s kind (Gen. 1:26) – first man, then woman. Since man was created FIRST, and God is a God of order, the clear implication is that man was given the place of headship in the family. Although both men and women are created in the image of God, He designed each of them differently, so that each can more effectively carry out his/her God-given roles.

Ephesians 5 gives us a more detailed description of man’s role in his household. By God’s design, a man is the Patriarch, Pastor, Prophet, Provider and Protector in his family.

Let’s take a quick look at these 5 P’s of biblical manhood:

1. Man has been called by God to be the PATRIARCH of his family. “Patriarch” is defined as “a male head of his family.” In Ephesians 5, we learn what kind of leader God calls a patriarch to be. While married women are to submit to and respect their husbands (v. 22), married men are given two commands: Lead (v. 22-24) and Love (vs. 25 and 33).

2. Man has been called by God to be the PASTOR in his home. To be the pastor in your own home means to be the spiritual leader and shepherd. Men: As the spiritual shepherd, it is YOU who should lead your family in reading the Bible and praying together every day.

3. Man has been called to be the PROPHET in his home. To be the prophet means to be one who speaks and lives out God’s Word with clarity. You must love your wife and kids with a selfless, sacrificial agape love (vs. 25-27). Take the initiative to seek God, listen to His Word, and communicate God’s Word to your family.

4. Man has been called to be the PROVIDER in his home. As the provider, you must work hard to meet the practical and financial needs of your family (v. 29). Now, there is not a “Thou shalt not work outside the home” command for Christian women. But, sadly, far too many men don’t have a valid excuse for shirking their God-given responsibility to provide for the practical needs of their family.

5. Man has been called to be the PROTECTOR of his household. A protector is one who lifts his shield of faith and protects his family from physical, moral and spiritual harm. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” Jesus’ life and death were all about humble self-sacrifice. In agape love, He gave Himself up for us. And a man must do the same—humbly give himself up for his wife and kids.

In our day, when so many people are confused about manhood, God’s Word provides beautiful clarity. A man is created by God as distinctively male and is called by God to be the leader in his family.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Where Is Your Treasure?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

Life here on earth is NOT all there is. This is a biblical truth that we all need to hear. You were made to last forever.

 

Because this life is preparation for the next, you must live with eternity in the FOREFRONT of your mind – not the BACK of your mind.

 

Jesus zeroes in on this topic in Matthew 6:19-24. The bottom line of this passage: If your life on earth is wrapped up in money and possessions, you’ll be penniless in eternity.

 

Warren Wiersbe suggests that in these verses, Jesus gives us 3 warnings about money and material possessions:

 

Warning #1: Money and possessions can enslave your HEART (vs. 19-21). Jesus warns us not to chase after temporary, earthly things, but to store up treasure in heaven (v. 20). In Wiersbe’s words, we need “to ‘hang loose’ when it comes to the material things of life … measuring life by the true riches of the kingdom and not by the false riches of this world.” Only what we do for Christ’s kingdom and the glory of God will last in eternity.

 

But being rewarded isn’t the main reason to store up treasures in heaven. Jesus tells us in verse 21, “For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Heavenly rewards are wonderful. But the main reason Jesus wants you to store up treasure in heaven is because He wants your heart. And He knows that your heart will follow your treasure.

 

Warning #2: Money and possessions can enslave your MIND (vs. 22-23). Jesus uses our eyes to make an analogy: “If your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness” (v. 23). When we’re focused on money, it’s like going through life with blinders on. We can’t see or pursue what is good because we’re blind to it. As Wiersbe puts it: “If the eye is properly focused on the light, the body can function properly in its movements. But if the eye is out of focus and seeing double, it results in unsteady movements. It is most difficult to make progress while trying to look in two directions at the same time.”

 

Warning #3: Money and possessions can enslave your WILL (v. 24). You can have two supervisors, but you can’t have two masters. You can have two bosses, but you can’t have two lords. As Jesus says in verse 24, “You cannot serve both God and money.” If you love your money, you will hate it when the Holy Spirit tells you to give it away. But if you love God with all your heart, you will hate it when you see yourself holding your possessions too tightly.

 

Now, it’s important to understand that the Word of God doesn’t condemn wealth or glorify poverty. Money, wealth and material possessions are neutral. What matters is what part they play in your life. A wise man once said, “It’s fine to have possessions – as long as your possessions don’t have you.”

 

If you invest your time, talent and financial treasure in kingdom work, you will have treasure in heaven. Missionary Jim Elliot hit the nail on the head when he said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Are You Giving God Your Leftovers?

“I will not … sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
– 1 Chronicles 21:24

King David is one of best known, most loved heroes in the Old Testament. He was the only man in the Bible whom God referred to as “a man after My own heart.”

But David was far from perfect. At times, this legendary king messed up royally (pardon the pun). Just like you and me, David was a sinner in need of a Savior.

 

David’s sin with Bathsheba was, to us, the most legendary. He seduced a married woman, then got her husband killed in order to cover up his crime. But surprisingly, God was more upset with David when he allowed Satan to tempt him into ordering a census of all his fighting men.

 

What was wrong with that? We can’t be certain, but it appears that David sinned on two levels. First, he DISOBEYED God by skipping the Lord’s instructions. God instructed Moses that whenever a census was taken, each person was to pay an offering to glorify God (Exodus 30:11-16). The second problem was PRIDE. David didn’t take a census to bring glory to God. He took it to bring glory to himself.

 

But when God rebuked David, David immediately humbled himself and cried out to God for forgiveness (v. 8). As David’s act of repentance, God commanded him to build an altar on the threshing floor belonging to a man named Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah offered to give David the threshing floor and all the land around it, but David refused: “I will not take for the LORD what is yours or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing” (v. 24). So he paid Araunah, built the altar, and made his sacrifices there – on what he vowed would be the site of the LORD’s temple (v. 22:1).

 

David knew that if he didn’t pay for the threshing floor and the land around it, his sacrifice would be worthless. The same is true for us today: If it doesn’t cost you something, it’s NOT true worship.

 

Today, you and I need to ask ourselves: What is my worship costing me? Many Christians who think they’re worshiping God aren’t really worshiping Him at all. Their worship is cheap and convenient. Instead of giving God their very best, they’re giving God their leftovers.

 

Ask yourself: When I’m in church, am I giving God my full attention? What is my offering costing me? Am I like the poor widow in Mark 12, giving God my first and my best – or am I just giving Him my leftovers? The same holds true of your time of Communion, and of studying God’s Word. Don’t just go through the motions. Don’t just listen politely.

 

God has called you to support your church with your 3 T’s: Time, Talent and Treasures. True worship ALWAYS involves sacrifice. And so, we sacrifice our time for Jesus. We sacrifice our talents for Jesus. And we sacrifice our treasures for Jesus.

 

As Christians, let’s draw a line in the sand. No more cheap, easy worship. No more giving Jesus our leftovers. We need to worship like David—giving God our VERY best.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

2 Big Takeaways from a Life-Changing Letter

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Apostle Paul must have felt like a dad who couldn’t turn his back on his kids for one minute.

 

He’d spent a year and a half with the Corinthian Christians, planting their church and teaching them God’s Word. Yet just a short time later, word got back to him: Many of those Christians had already shot down much of what he’d taught them.

 

So Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church. For 16 chapters he taught them, rebuked them, corrected and trained them in righteousness. And God placed this letter in the Bible because we ALSO need to be taught, rebuked, corrected and trained in righteousness.

 

Reading over this important book, I found 2 key themes: #1) Right DOCTRINE, and #2) Right BEHAVIOR. Let’s take a quick look at what 1 Corinthians teaches us about both.

 

1. The Holy Spirit uses 1 Corinthians to teach us right DOCTRINE. In chapter 15, Paul writes: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (vs. 3-4). The core of right doctrine is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ.

 

Without Jesus’ DEATH, you and I would be condemned to hell for our sin. Without Jesus’ BURIAL, we might doubt that Jesus had really died. And without Jesus’ RESURRECTION, you and I would have no hope beyond the grave. No matter how foolish the world thinks this message is, we as followers of Christ must proclaim it over and over again.

 

2. The Holy Spirit uses 1 Corinthians to teach us right BEHAVIOR. The Corinthian church had lots of behavioral problems. Over the course of his letter, Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their disunity and infighting; for their tolerance of perversion in the church; for suing each other in court. He gives them clear instructions on everything from taking the Lord’s Supper to the proper use of spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians is filled with deep and practical teaching about how we as Christians should behave.

 

But the very pinnacle of this teaching is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Often called “the Love Chapter,” it paints a beautiful picture of how Jesus’ agape love behaves. Through Paul, the Holy Spirit makes it crystal clear that when it comes to right behavior, agape love never fails. Verse 13 tells us: “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

 

At home, in our community and at church, you and I must hold fast to these beautiful truths. Believe them. Live them out. And proclaim them to all who will listen.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

5 Ways to Show God’s Love

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.”
– 1 Corinthians 16:23-24

The early Corinthian church was a moral mess. So, the Apostle Paul spent 16 chapters teaching, correcting and training them in righteousness. And as he brings his hard-hitting letter to a close, he leaves his readers ... with "agape" love. Agape is God’s kind of love – selfless, sacrificial and unconditional.

 

In the final verses of Chapter 16, Paul shares 5 practical ways to show God’s agape love:

 

#1: Volunteer for devoted service (v. 15). In verse 15, Paul mentions Stephanas’ family, who “devoted themselves to the service of the saints.” As followers of Christ, one of the most practical ways we can show agape love is to do what Stephanas’ family did: Volunteer. Don’t sit around and wait to be appointed to serve. When you see a need, and the Holy Spirit prompts you to meet it, meet it!

 

#2: Submit to faithful servant leaders (v. 16). In verses15-16, Paul writes: “I urge you, brothers, to submit to … everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.” It’s a natural human tendency to fight against submission. But as Christians, we must submit ourselves, first and foremost, to Jesus Christ as Lord. And as we submit to Him, He commands us to submit to our God-given leaders, and to submit to one another in the church. Like Jesus, we mustn’t aim to BE served, but to SERVE.

 

#3: Refresh other Christians with your companionship (vs. 17-18a). Paul writes in verses 17-18: “I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because … they refreshed my spirit.” Do you know some Christians who are “refreshing” to be around? One of the most practical ways to show others agape love is to offer them refreshing companionship. Sit with them and patiently listen to them when they’re grieving. Stand by their bedside and pray with them when they’re sick. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn.

 

#4: Respect those who serve faithfully (v. 18b). Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus made the effort to visit Paul and refresh him with their companionship. So, Paul tells the rest of the Corinthian Christians, “Such men deserve recognition.” Does Paul want the church to give these three men a trophy? No. He’s simply asking the church to show them some well-deserved appreciation, which brings glory to God. 

 

#5: Show hospitality and affection to all believers (vs. 19-20). When Paul sends the Corinthians greetings from the church in Asia, he’s probably also referring to the churches in Colosse, Laodicea and other faraway places. Christian hospitality can’t be limited to those who are in the same town as us. We need to lovingly pray for Christians on the other side of the world. In love, we need to send financial support to help meet the needs of Christian missionaries around the world. World missions require both loving “goers” and loving “senders.”

 

Finally, Paul closes his letter with grace and agape love. After all the dumb, sinful things the Corinthians had done ... after all the slander and all the backstabbing … Paul still loved them. How was that possible? It was possible because, like Christ’s love for us, Paul’s love for them was selfless, sacrificial and unconditional. May you and I love one another in the same way.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

5 Commands for Spiritual Battle

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

As the Apostle Paul begins to wrap up his first hard-hitting letter to the Corinthians, he doesn't disappoint. Chapter 16 gives the Corinthian Christians – and all of us today – five commands that pull together so much of what Paul has been teaching in this letter.

 

When it comes down to it, each of the commands Paul gives in verses 13 and 14 provides a short and sweet recap of rebukes and instructions from the first 15 chapters. To win in spiritual battle, Paul writes, you must be alert, doctrinally sound, courageous, strengthened and loving.

 

Let’s take a close look at each of these 5 vital commands:

 

Command #1: Be alert (v. 13). As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live our lives with eyes wide open—alert and watchful. The New Testament tells us to watch out for 5 things: Satan (1 Peter 5:8-9); temptation (Mark 14:38); apathy (Revelation 3:1-3); false prophets and teachers (Matthew 7:15); and the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:42 and 25:13).

 

Command #2: Stand firm in the faith (v. 13). Paul is talking about standing firm in the TRUTH of our faith. Some of the Corinthians weren’t standing firm in the important truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also failed to stand firm in the truth about church unity, sexual purity, forgiveness and spiritual gifts. Too many Christian churches are like that today—blown and tossed by the wind of every new, more politically-correct teaching. Most tragically, many Christian churches refuse to proclaim that Christ is the only Way to salvation. It’s not politically correct – but it’s true.

 

Command #3: Be men of courage (v. 13). The Greek word Paul uses here conveys two things: Courage and maturity. Whether you’re male or female, if you’re a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you must stop thinking and acting like a baby Christian. God has called us to grow up in our faith and be men and women of courage. And when Satan and the world start throwing jabs at you, don’t run away like a scared 5-year-old.

 

Command #4: Be strong (v. 13). The verb Paul uses here means, “Be strengthened” or “Be made strong.” The New Testament makes it clear that you and I are inherently weak. Thankfully, Jesus tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My power is made perfect in your weakness.” And Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Only God can strengthen you. Your job is to sit at the feet of Jesus, learn from Him, and submit to God’s strengthening process.

 

Command #5: Do everything in love (v. 14).  As Chuck Swindoll points out, the first four commands sound like orders shouted in battle: “’Wake up! Stand firm! Be a man! Be strong!’…. The next imperative, however, put everything in perspective: ‘Do everything in love’.” John MacArthur agrees: “Without [this principal] the others could make us crusty, militant and hard…. Love is what the Corinthians needed most, and is what believers of all ages have needed most.”

 

I say “Amen!” to that!

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Timeless Principals for Giving

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.”  –  1 Corinthians 16:2

Whoa! Where did that sudden shift in gears come from?
 
The Apostle Paul ends 1 Corinthians 15 with a beautiful climax: “Death has been swallowed up in victory…. Therefore, my dear brothers…. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (vs. 54-58).
 
Then, on the heels of this uplifting teaching about the resurrection, Paul begins chapter 16: “Now about the collection for God’s people” (v.1). What?
 
Well, Paul did move from subject to subject rather abruptly at times. But I think Paul’s teaching at the end of chapter 15 drives what he says in the first few verses of chapter 16. Because our “labor in the Lord is not in vain,” we must give generously to Christians in need.
 
In the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 16, we can find 4 biblical principles for Christian giving:
 
Principle #1: Offerings should be given on the Lord’s Day as an act of worship (v .2). In this verse, Paul tells the Corinthians to “set aside” a certain amount of money on the first day of the week (Sunday). Across the world, Christians gather on the Lord’s Day to take communion, pray, sing songs of praise and study God’s Word. But it’s not true worship if you’re just receiving. So, giving an offering is one of the beautiful ways that Christians worship God on The Lord’s Day.
 
Principle #2: “Each” Christian should give an offering (v. 2 & 2 Cor. 9:7). Notice these four little words that Paul uses in verse 2: “each one of you.” When Paul wrote these words, he wasn’t just talking to the Christians with full-time jobs and 401K plans. He was talking to EVERY Christian. Never forget: All that you have in your possession has been given to you by God. And He has given you the privilege of giving some of what you have to Christians who have even less than you do. It’s not just rich Christians who have the privilege of giving; broke Christians can give too!
 
Principle #3: The amount of your offering should be in proportion to your income (v. 2). Nowhere in the New Testament do Jesus or His apostles REQUIRE every Christian to give a certain dollar amount, or even a certain percentage, to the church. You won’t find a “Thou shalt tithe 10%” command. Do I think tithing 10% is a good practice for all Christians? Yes, I do. But the fact remains: In the New Testament, God doesn’t tell Christians to give 10%. Instead, He calls you to give on the Lord’s Day as part of your worship – and He wants you to give in proportion to your income, from the heart, as the Holy Spirit leads you to give.
 
Principle #4: It is good and proper to support needy Christians in other congregations (vs. 1 and 3). Because our labor in the Lord is not in vain, Paul tells the Corinthian church to take up an offering for the Christians in Jerusalem, where poverty and unemployment were rampant. To this day, one of the best things the Church does is to bless Christians on the other side of the world. We are most like Jesus when we are making sacrifices and giving to “the least of these,” knowing that they’ll never be able to pay us back.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Will Death Win in the End?

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 
–  1 Corinthians 15:55

Spoiler alert: When life ends for Christians … death ends up as one big loser.

 

In 1 Corinthians 15:54, the Apostle Paul says it straight out: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” In verse 55, he continues, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” He’s basically trash-talking death: “Is that ALL you got?”

 

But honestly, even for Christians, death still stings, doesn’t it? I officiated a funeral recently for a 44-year-old Christian woman. Her family took comfort in knowing that she is safe in Jesus’ arms. Verses like Luke 23:43, Acts 7:55-59 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 indicate that when Christians die, our souls and spirits immediately enter the presence of the Lord in heaven. But for her loved ones, the woman’s death at such a young age still stung.

 

However, don’t forget: For Christians, death’s victory and sting are only temporary. As Paul writes, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 57). Paul is so thankful because Jesus has given us three different victories:

 

Victory #1: Jesus has given us victory over sin. As Paul writes in verse 56, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Because of the law, we are justly declared guilty of sin and the death penalty that sin brings. The law keeps us from pleading ignorance when we sin. When we do things that God’s law clearly says we “shall not” do, we can’t play dumb.

 

Victory #2: Jesus has given us victory over the condemnation of the law. Praise God, thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

 

Victory #3: Jesus has given us victory over death. This bears repeating, because it wouldn’t be possible without the other two victories. Leon Morris, a pastor and theologian, says it very well: “It is not ‘death’ in itself that is harmful; it is that death that is ‘the wages of sin’ (Rom. 6:23) that matters. Death, considered simply as the passing out of this life into the immediate presence of the Lord, is a gain, not a loss (Phil. 1:21,23).”

 

When Jesus returns, He will conquer death once and for all. When our old bodies are transformed into their new and improved versions, He will even reverse the damage death has done in Christians’ lives. Jesus will strip death of its victories and remove its stinger … forever.

 

The fact of the resurrection makes everything in your life so meaningful! So, that resurrection should motivate you to get up and get to work for Jesus. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (v. 58).

 

If you believe in the truth of the resurrection and are convinced that there will be a Judgment Day, you have every reason to work hard and make sacrifices for Jesus. And thanks to Him, you know that your work and sacrifices are totally meaningful.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Your Amazing New Body!

“You will still be you, and I will still be me, but the resurrection will make you a better you and me a better me.” –  Chuck Swindoll

It will be like upgrading from a 1970s Ford Pinto to a Rolls Royce.

In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul spends the first half of the chapter teaching that because Jesus’ resurrection is a historical fact, our future resurrection is guaranteed. In the second half of the chapter, Paul goes on to tackle the next question: What will our resurrected bodies be like?  

 

Some Christians assume that our resurrected bodies will simply be our current bodies … reassembled. But Paul removes all doubt that our resurrected bodies will be a thousand times better than our bodies today.

 

In verses 42-44, Paul presents 4 big differences between our mortal bodies today and our immortal bodies tomorrow:

 

Difference #1: Our mortal bodies are perishable and corruptible. Our resurrected bodies will be unperishable and incorruptible. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable” (v. 42).

 

Difference #2: Our current bodies are dishonorable and easily led into sin. Our resurrected bodies will be “raised in glory” (v. 43).

 

Difference #3: Our mortal bodies are weak, but our new bodies will be powerful (v. 43).

 

Difference #4: Our old bodies are natural. Our new bodies will be spiritual (v. 44).

 

Our mortal, corruptible bodies, Paul explains, were made in the likeness of Adam, the first created man, who fell into sin. But when we are resurrected, we will be made in the likeness of Jesus – the “last Adam,” who overcame sin and made our resurrection possible (vs. 45-49). In other words, if you want to know what your resurrection body will look like and be capable of, just take a closer look at Jesus in the final chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

 

After His resurrection, Jesus was recognizable. You too will be recognizable. Jesus was able to eat and drink. It stands to reason that you too will be able to eat and drink. Jesus was able to suddenly appear and pass through walls into a locked room. Guess what you’ll be able to do? If you want to know what a resurrected body can do, look at Jesus. He is the prototype.

 

Thanks to Jesus, your resurrected body will be so much better than the body you’ve got right now.

I love the way Chuck Swindoll puts it: “You will still be you, and I will still be me, but the resurrection will make you a better you and me a better me.”

 

Now, just because our resurrection bodies will be so much better than the bodies we’ve got right now, that doesn’t give us an excuse to waste these bodies we’ve got right now. If all you’ve got is a Ford Pinto, fire it up and drive it for God’s glory. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

 

We thank God for the new and improved Rolls Royce resurrection bodies that we’ll be given one day, but until we trade in these Ford Pintos, we must use them for the glory of God.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

How Are You Spending Your Eternity?

“The fact is that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday.” –  1 Corinthians 15:20 (The Living Bible)

 

The truth is, Christians never really die.

 

Even though our bodies decompose after death, they are really just resting until resurrection day. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul speaks of Christians who have died as simply having “fallen asleep,” because Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our resurrection. In verses 21-22, Paul drives this point home: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

 

Both Adam and Jesus blazed a trail of rewards and consequences for everyone who would come after them. Adam brought us sin and death. Jesus brought us righteousness and life. ALL of us have inherited Adam’s undesirable gift of sin and death. But only those who reach out in faith to Jesus Christ will inherit His gift of righteousness and life.

 

Sadly, many of the Corinthian Christians’ neighbors didn’t believe in the resurrection, so they didn’t believe in a Judgment Day. They thought there would be no consequences for any of their choices here on earth. So, they figured they might as well live it up! Drink to your heart’s content. Have sex whenever and with whomever you want. Who cares about anyone else? Live for yourself!

 

Hedonism makes sense if there’s no life after death. But since both our resurrection and a day of judgment are guaranteed, hedonism is spiritual suicide. Paul warns in verses 33-34: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to shame you.”

 

In this passage, I believe God is revealing 3 undeniable truths:

 

Truth #1: Only those who are ignorant of God don’t believe in the resurrection (v. 33). To know God is to know that He has provided indisputable evidence for the resurrection. Jesus holds the keys of eternal life. His life conquers death.

 

Truth #2: Our good character can be corrupted easily by cynics whose unbelief fuels their hedonism (v. 33). Bad company DOES corrupt good morals. If you hang out with dirty dogs, don’t be surprised if you wake up with fleas.

 

Truth #3: In order to act right, we must BELIEVE right. Coming back to our senses requires us to cling to sound doctrine (v. 34). There is a direct correlation between bad beliefs and bad morals. Bad morals arise from unbelieving hearts that don’t believe in God or fear Judgment Day.

 

But if you follow Jesus Christ, you know the truth: His resurrection guarantees YOUR resurrection. And His eternal life guarantees YOUR eternal life. And you know that you will have to give an account of your life on Judgment Day.

 

One day you will stand before Jesus, and your entire life will be fed through the flames of testing. Only what you’ve done for Jesus, and in Jesus’ name, will survive the flames. So, your words and deeds matter. Your priorities matter. Most of all, your beliefs matter … both now and in eternity.

 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.