Gifts & Strengths

Your gifts and strengths won't be of much benefit to God or anyone else if you fail to deal with your weaknesses.

Revival Defined

Revival must result in reform - or it is merely an expression of enthusiasm (which can fade quickly).

Arrogance

There is an incompatibility between blind arrogance and the presence of God in our lives. When God's presence is truly embraced, there is no room for pride - because He always makes us aware of our true selves. This is why those who know God are never more aware of their brokenness and desperate need of a Savior.

Worldliness

Worldliness is an internal disease of the heart. It has three dominant characteristics.

1. Lust for physical pleasure - preoccupation with gratifying physical desires with food, sex, alcohol, massages, entertainment, etc.
2. Lust for what we see - accumulating things.
3. Pride in our possessions - obsession with one's importance.

Unfortunately, the Bible warns us about our lust and our pride.

When Satan tempted Eve (Genesis 3:6) and when he tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), these were the three areas of attack. Can we expect that Satan has changed his strategy since the days of Eve or Jesus?

Pure Heart

When the Holy Spirit works to purify a heart He always gives self-control in area of speech. We become able to control our tongue. (James 3:9-12) And when a man can control his tongue, he will find self control in other areas of his life as well.

Spiritual Maturity

As spiritual maturity grows, the need to express my faith through buying Christian shirts, jewelry, key chains, candles, pictures and other materials - has diminished greatly. To some extent this has even been true for my need to buy worship CD's. And to think --- I used to assume that buying those things was a sign of my spiritual maturity!

Faith in Truth

We should never let intellectual agreement be our substitute for genuine faith grounded in truth. It is the difference between knowing of God or truly knowing God.