The Danger of Having Good Faith But Bad Theology

I recently heard the story of a man named John Liberber who had a daughter who was very sick.  Rather than take her to the hospital, he trusted God to heal his little girl, and prayed faithfully.  When the girl got worse and not better, he only prayed harder, but never took her to the hospital.  His daughter died, he was charged with manslaughter.  John’s only defense was, “God is my judge.”

Having faith in God is necessary as a starting point for the Christian life.  Without faith in God, no one can be saved.  We all base our actions, attitudes, and values on how and what we believe.   But if we base our life and values on bad theology, disaster is the result.  

When you stand before God, he will not ask you how you did on a theology exam, but will care about how much you trust him.  But belief without good theology can do great damage.  In fact, the more deeply you trust, the more dangerous you are — if you don’t have good theology.  If I have a concept of God that is radically false, it is possible that I am are gambling my life and soul on a lie.  This is where cults are born that lead people away from the truth of God.

Let me create an illustration that may help make this clear:  You have a pain in your stomach and go to a doctor.  You ask him what is wrong, and he says, Look, I did not pay much attention to all that medicine stuff in school….  I focus more on bedside manner and my interaction with my patients.  Let’s just cut you open and see what is going on in there.  Would you say ok?  Or run out of there?

So, let’s have not just strong faith, let’s have good theology too.  We must discipline ourselves enough to become students of the Word of God, study it, and base our lives and decisions on it.  It will be a benefit to you and to everyone else too.  God will not overlook unbelief.  and bad theology leads to disaster.

Luke 10:27      And he answered, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

What do you think?  I would love to hear your ideas.

Yours in Christ,

Larry Epps

The Cult of Ignorance

It seems as if there is a strange thing happening in some circles of the Church.  There is this idea going around that higher learning is bad for your spiritual health.  I am a Bible student working on my Master’s Degree in Bible (the degree is called an M.Div.).  You would be surprised at how many people have almost reacted with hostility when they hear that I am pursuing this degree.  I hear questions like: “Why don’t you just rely on the Holy Spirit to tell you what you ought to preach or teach?”  Or “How are you leaving room God to get all the glory for what you preach if you are getting so well trained in how to understand and communicate the Bible?”

I suppose some of those questions are good ones, but it also seems to expose some underlying beliefs about ministers:  It is ok to love the Lord with all of my heart and soul, but the mind is off limits.  But that idea seems to be contrary to Biblical teaching.  Jesus said this:

And he answered, “You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself  (Luke 10:27). 

Don’t be afraid to love God with all your mind.  You will not make God nervous. Let’s explore the deep things of God.  Let’s meditate on God and His Word.

I love this quote by A.W. Tozer — “There is, unfortunately, a feeling in some quarters today that there is something innately wrong about learning, and that to be spiritual one must be stupid. There is a cult of ignorance.”

 Most of us would not be comfortable in trusting a doctor to surgically remove our gallbladder if he had not been to medical school and spent many years in residency.  However, we seem to think that those who care for our eternal souls do not need any preparation or training.  It is a strange paradox that we must rethink.  There is too much at stake for us to just go at the job of leading God’s people without sacrificing our time and energy to seek proper preparation to do the job with care and caution.

What do you think?  I would love to hear your ideas.

Yours in Christ,

Larry Epps

You Never Know

I think most of us would be surprised to know just how much we influence each other every single day.  Not only do we watch people to see how they are going to act or behave….. people are watching us too.  We feed off of the energy of others.  Have you ever noticed how one co-worker in a bad mood will eventually rub off on everyone in the office?  Well, as believers, we are to be thermometers (affecting the atmosphere), rather than thermostats (letting the environment affect us).  Jesus said it this way……

Matthew 5:14-16        ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.   ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  ¹⁶ In the same way, let y our light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Here is a good poem by Helen Marshall that says it very well; read it slowly and think about what you are reading.

You never know when someone

May catch a dream from you

You never know when a little word

Or something you may do

May open up the windows

Of a mind that seals a light

The way you live, may not matter at all

But you never know….  It might.

– 

And just in case it could be

That another’s life, through you

Might possibly change for the better

With a broader and brighter view

It seems it might be worth a try

At pointing the way to the right

Of course it may not matter at all,

But then again…..  It might.

By: Helen L. Marshall

So, as you go through your day, think about this.  Be careful of what you say and how you live, because others are watching closely.  We must let the light of God shine through our lives so that we can point the world back to God.  God bless and keep you.

In Christ Serving,

Larry Epps

This I Believe (Part 3 of 3)

To know and apply truth to our lives produces freedom John 8:32.  However, basing out lives on anything other than truth produces bondage and misery Romans 6:16.  So, what truths are you basing your life on?  What do you believe?  How is that working out for you so far?

In this series, I have invited you in to my own journey of exploring and wrestling with my own beliefs (or “Creeds”) as I am calling them here.  I have also asked myself the question; how will I allow those beliefs to shape my life and decisions?  It has not been the easiest journey, but it has been a very rewarding one.

This will be the final installment of this series, and then, I will move on to something else to talk about.  Let’s get started.

Man

Creed

• All humans have worth and value because they are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 5:1,1Corinthians 11:7).
• Man was created to enjoy relationship with God and others (John 13:35, John 10:27, John 15: 4-1).
• All humans will eventually die, but will live forever in either heaven or hell after the death of the body (Genesis 3:19, Luke 16:19-31, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:12-15).
• Humans do not know everything; our knowledge and understanding are limited and sometimes wrong (Romans 1:21-32,1Corinthians 13:12, Galatians 2:11-14, Hebrews 6:4-6).

Application

• I will treat others with respect and value because all men are created in the image of God.
• I will use my ministry to restore others to right relationship with God and others.
• I will prayerfully attempt to prepare myself and others for an eternity in Heaven.
• My human limitation of knowledge and understanding demands an attitude of humble dependency on God in life and in my ministry.

Sin

Creed

• Sin is any action, thought, or attitude that is against God and separates us from God (Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 59:2, Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 5:27-29).
• Every human is born an enemy of God, has done wrong, and is in trouble with God (Romans 3:10-16, Romans 3:23).
• God has provided the only remedy for temptation and sin: His word and His Son’s work (Acts 4:12,1Corinthians 10:13, 2 Timothy 3: 15-17, James 1: 12-17, 2 Peter 1:4-10,2Peter 2:9).
• Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is sin (Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Peter 2:9).
• If the sin issue is not dealt with during life on earth, it will lead to an eternal separation from God (Matthew 25:41-46, Revelation 20:15).

Application

• I will recognize sin’s effects in some situations; the pain, sorrow, brokenness, guilt, and shame.
• I will honestly, prayerfully, and humbly address sinful actions and attitudes.
• I commit myself and my ministry to model hope, forgiveness, and restoration for those who admit their need or have been hurt by the sins of others.
• Recognizing my own sinful nature, I will humbly depend on God for help in my life and ministry (Jeremiah 17:9, Ecclesiastes 9:3).
• I will strive to teach biblical truths and principles that offer strength in resisting temptation in my ministry.

The Church

Creed

• The church is actively carrying out the mission of Jesus I want to participate in that mission both by participating in worship of God and in reaching out to others (Matthew 16:18-20,  Matthew 28:18-20,Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 4:11-16).
• There are divinely appointed practices in the church that are designed to remind us of Christ’s nature and work (Matthew 28:19, Luke 22:14-20, John 13:4-16).
• Self-governance and disciple in the church promotes unity and the mission of the church (Matthew 18:15-18,Acts 6:1-7,Acts 15: 1-29,1Corinthians 6:1-7).
• The Church is composed of the people of God: both local and universal (Romans 9:25-26,1Corinthians 16:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Colossians 1:18).

Application

• I submit my life and ministry as a part of the building up of the church of Jesus (Ephesians 4:11-13, Colossians 3:23).
• I commit to be an active part of the body of Christ so I can be a more effective minister.
• I commit to submit myself to the authority of the Church to promote unity in the body.
• I will seek to share the love and grace of Jesus to those inside and outside of the church.
• I will join the church in worshipping Jesus and carefully consider how I might encourage others to do so through my ministry.

The End Times

Creed

• I believe that the world as we know it will end one day (Hebrews 1:12, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelations 21:1).
• Every one living and dead will be judged by God in the eternal future (2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Revelations 20:11-15).
• There is coming a day of rest and reward for all those who trust in and obey God (Hebrews 4:7-11, Revelations 21:3-7).
• Satan and all that oppose God will one day be punished by eternal separation from God in Hell (Revelations 19:20-21, Revelations 20:10, Revelations 20:15, Revelations 21:8).
• Physical death is not the end of existence for humans (2 Corinthians 5:1-8, Philippians 1:21-24).

Application

• I will use my life and ministry to prepare as many people as possible to meet God in eternity as believers (2 Peter 3:11-14).
• I will pray for a deep concern for the souls of those unprepared to meet God, never forgetting that time is short and the stakes are high (Romans 9:1-5, Romans 10:1).
• I commit to fast and pray for the souls of those who are unprepared to meet God in my family and in my ministry.
• I commit to comfort the fearful when the world seems to be spinning out of control with the knowledge that God is in control of time and events.

Well, that is it!  I did it!  I was not an easy journey, but a very rewarding and clarifying one.  It is one thing to have a vague sense of what you believe, but can you clearly communicate those beliefs to others?  Just the act of writing them down certainly does help to solidifying those core beliefs that drive you.

God bless you in your own journey.

Yours in Christ,

Larry Epps

This I Believe (Part 2 of 3)

“Do you really believe what you believe is really real?”   A few years ago focus on the Family asked that question in a series of DVDs that they produced to challenge and inform the world on the necessity of having a solid foundation of truth that we live our lives on.

In this series, I am allowing you to eavesdrop on my own struggles of trying to answer that same question:  What do I believe?  And how will I allow those beliefs to shape my life and decisions?  It has not been the easiest journey, but it has been a very rewarding one.    Let’s get started.

The Holy Spirit

Creed                                                     

• The Holy Spirit is an equal member of Holy Trinity of God, accomplishing the will of God in the Earth (Matthew 12:31-33, Matthew 28:19, John 16: 8-14, Acts 5: 4-9,Acts 15:28).
• The Holy Spirit lives inside every believer, making it possible to know God personally, and to understand the Bible (Acts 2:1-4,Acts 4:31,Acts 19:6,Joel   2: 28-29).
• The Holy Spirit can be grieved by bad behavior or attitudes which may hinder Him from helping and intervening in human affairs (Ephesians 4:30,1Thessalonians 5:19-20, Isaiah 7:13).
• The Holy Spirit will convict people of wrong behaviors or attitudes and will seek to draw them closer to God (John 14:17 & 26, John 16:8-14).
• I will trust the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and the right words to say in my ministry (Matthew 10:19-20, Luke 21:14-15,Acts 6:10).

Application

• I will trust in and depend on the work of the Holy Spirit to give me and others the ability to understand truth, know God, and to change (John 6:44 & 65, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
• I will consistently pray for the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and the appropriate words to say in my ministry (Acts 4:13).
• I will pray for and expect miracles to occur in and outside of my ministry.
• I will stay alert for actions or attitudes in my life that may hinder the Holy Spirit from working in and through my life and my ministry (1 Corinthians 8:9-13, 1 Corinthians 10:27).
• I will cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in my ministry; even if He is using pain or sorrow to reach those with whom I minister. (2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

The Bible

Creed

• The Bible is God’s communication to mankind and is the ultimate source of truth and authority (Matthew 5:17-19, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Revelation 22:18-19).
• The Bible is without error, is fully truthful in all of its teachings and history, and can be trusted (2 Peter 1:20-21,2Timothy 3:16,1John 1:3-4).
• The Bible will produce change in me and others; by the power of the Holy Spirit, if it is interpreted and applied correctly (Psalms 19:7-11, Hebrews 4:12).
• Man can know God through the Bible because it teaches mankind about the nature and character of God (Luke 24:27, John 5:39-40).
• God gives us truth through both general and special revelation (Romans 1, Psalms 19).

 Application

• I commit myself to the authority and teaching of the bible in my life and in my ministry to generate internal and external change (Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 4:12-13).
• Reading and obeying the Bible can give strength to overcome habitual sins and addictions (Psalms 119:9-11).
• As I am being changed by meditating on the Bible, it will increase the impact that I will have in the lives of others.
• I will obey the truth of the Bible even if it contradicts my own opinion or beliefs.
• I will prayerfully look for ways to encourage others to read the Bible for themselves and live by its commands and principles (Proverbs 3:1-6).

Salvation

Creed

• Jesus died to pay the price for the sins of the world, and to reconcile the world to God (Romans 5:8,2Corinthians 5:18-19).
• Salvation can never be earned by good behavior or human achievement, but only by faith in the finished work of Jesus (John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:4-5,2Timothy 1:9).
• Salvation must include a sorrow for sin and a willingness to change attitudes and behavior to do what is right according to God (Acts 2:38-39, 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, Romans 2:4-5).
• Salvation includes a forgiveness of all of my wrongs, and I am at peace with God now and forever (Acts 17:30, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 1:7, Philippians 4:7).
• Salvation reawakens a spiritual sensitivity to God and makes obedience to God and right living possible (Romans 8:2-6,1Corinthians 2:10-16, Hebrews 9:14).
• Salvation gives me a new identity as a child of God which includes rights, privileges, and provisions by my Father God (Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:5-7, Philippians 2:15,1John 3:2).

Application

• I will strive to bring others to a place of accepting the finished work of Christ for salvation rather than trying to earn God’s favor.
• I will observe and teach others that worship, gratitude, and obedience to God is a right response to God’s salvation work.
• I commit myself to the job or reconciling others to God and to each other.
• I will live a life that reflects my new identity as a child of God and will help others to develop and accept their identity as children of God (Ephesians 4:1-3).

 

Well, that covers enough for this time.  I hope that reading my personal creeds has somehow challenged and motivated you to begin thinking about your own life and the truths that you use to govern your own life.

Take the challenge to wrestle with your own set of creeds.  Write them down.  Take your time with them.  It will bring clarity and strength to your life and give you a guideline on how you will interact with those truths.

Stay tuned.  Next time I will conclude this series on “This I Believe” by listing out my personal creeds on: Man, Sin, The Church, and The End Times.  I am praying for you!

In Christ Serving,

Larry Epps

This I Believe (Part 1 of 3)

Have you noticed that the world seems to be having a crisis of belief?  What is truth? Do standards of right and wrong even matter anymore?  In 1951, NPR (National Public Radio) featured a radio program called: “This I Believe” in which they interviewed people from all walks of life to find out which truths governed their lives.  Well, I have recently began thinking about that.  What truths govern my life?  I decided to wrestle with the idea and see what I could learn about myself.  So, here are my creeds and how I will apply them to my life:

General Truths

  Creed

• Learning and obeying truth produces real change (James 2:17-19,Matthew 19: 14,John 8:32).
• All truth comes from God, and the ultimate source of truth is the Bible (John 14:6,Psalms 31:5).
• Christians who rely on the help of the Holy Spirit can make a positive impact in the world (Matthew 5:13-16,John 14:17,21).
• The greatest gift that I can offer to the world is my integrity and a character that reflects the truth and attributes of God (1 Thessalonians 1: 5-6,Titus 2:7).
• Living a life based on anything other than truth produces misery and bondage (John 8:34,Romans 6:16,2 Peter 2:1,Proverbs 5:22-23).

  Application

• I can make an impact in the lives of others as I depend on God to give me wisdom and direction (Matthew 10:19-20).
• I will build and maintain good character and integrity so that my impact on others is not limited (1 Corinthians 9:27,1 Timothy 1:18-20).
• I will humbly and prayerfully confront lies and errors in my life and in the lives of others.
• I will integrate biblically based truth and principles into my life and ministry.

God (The Father)

  Creed

• I believe in the trinity of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26,Matthew 3:16-17,Matthew 28:19,2 Corinthians 13:14).
• The unity and agreement of the trinity proves that God values relationship (John 17:21-23).
• God created everything that exists and maintains all things by his mighty power (Genesis 1:1,John 1:3,Hebrews 1:3,Colossians 1:16-17).
• God existed before the creation of the worlds and He will never die (Psalms 90:2,1Timothy 1:17, Revelations 4:9).
• God knows all that can ever be known about everything and everyone (Proverbs 5:21,Matthew 12:25,Romans 11:33).
• God can be known by all men and He always keeps his promises (Romans 1:19-20,Psalms 98:2).
• God’s moral attributes should be imitated; including His love and forgiveness (Matthew 10:16,1Peter 1:16,1Peter 2:12).

  Application

• I will strive to live in peace and relationship with God and others (Romans 5:1,Romans 12:18).
•  I will seek to know God more fully and to make him known to the world.
• I will depend on the love and grace of God to destroy the walls of guilt and shame for those whom I minister to (Colossians 2:13-15,1 Peter 4:8,1 John 3:18-22).
• I will pray for and expect God to do the impossible, and use me in the process (John 14:12-14).
• I commit to a life of prayer, thanks, and worship of God as a way of communicating with God and learning His will.
• I will seek to comfort those that are suffering with the promises and hope of God (Romans 8:18,2 Corinthians 1:3-7,1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

Jesus Christ

  Creed

• I believe in the virgin birth, sinless life, atoning work, bodily resurrection, full deity and full humanity of Christ (Luke   1:26-38,Colossians 1:9-10,John 20:28,Hebrews 4:15).
• Jesus endured temptation and human suffering, but he never did anything wrong or sinned    (2 Corinthians 5:21,Hebrews 4:15,Hebrews 5:8,Hebrews 7:25-26,1 Peter 1:19).
• Jesus Christ died a literal death on a wooden cross for the sins of all men and to reconcile the human race to God (John 1:14,John 19:33-42,1John 1:1,1John 4:2-3).
• Salvation is only possible through the completed work of Jesus (John 14:6,Acts 4:12).
• Jesus humbled himself and obediently submitted himself to the will of God (Philippians 2:7-8).

  Application

• I commit to personally maintain and help others to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus (John 4:29-39).
• I commit my life to continue the mission of Jesus in reconciling men to God and to reconcile broken human relationship when it is appropriate (Romans 12:18,2 Corinthians 5:17-20,  Ephesians 4:3).
• The sinless endurance of temptation by Jesus provides hope for all who strive to resist sin.
• I commit to honor Jesus as my Lord in my personal life and in my ministry.
• I will humbly submit myself and my ministry to obey the will of God completely.

Well, that is enough for now.  Next time, I will share my personal beliefs about the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and Salvation.  Stay tuned.  It will be an interesting experience.

What about you?  What do you believe?  What truths guide your life?  Maybe you would accept my challenge to wrestle with your own beliefs in this same way.  Write them down and share them with me here as a reply to this message.  I would love to read them.

In Christ Serving,

Larry Epps

Barren Busyness

Hello world! It has been a while since I have written to you. Sorry about that. My life has been a bit crazy lately. Isn’t it funny how life can get so crazy that we stop doing the things that we love doing…..just so that we will have more time to do the things that we don’t? Or is that just me? Sometimes life will throw so many demands at me that I will stop spending time with those that matter the most to me; like my relationship with God and my wife. And in the long run, I am the one who suffers. I begin t feel isolated, lonely, and even a little depressed. I call this type of activity “Barren Busyness.” When I am more involved with “doing” than I am in simply “being”…. I tend to get into trouble. With that in mind, I want to share a few thoughts with you that may help when “Barren Busyness” comes along and robs you of your joy or peace in life.

1. Identity— God (and most of those who really matter in life) love you because of who you are, not because of anything that you do. God loves you because you are His child, not because He needs you to cut the lawn or do any chores for Him. He loves you more than any human could love anyone or anything. God loves you for who you are; His child Romans 8:31-39.
2. Value (or Worth) – As a human being, you are created in the image of God; Genesis 1:26. No one that bears the image of God is worthless; YOU ARE SPECIAL! Any voice that says otherwise (even the voices in your head) are wrong. God loved you enough to sacrifice His beloved son to bring you back into relationship with Himself (See the link to Romans 8). A man named Grady Nutt used to say: “I Am Me; I am Good, Because God Don’t Make No Junk.” You are valuable to God and to the family of Go.
3. Rest– Even God rested from His work on the seventh day Genesis 2:2. God meant for us to rest too; Exodus 34:21. However, we seem to ignore it, and work ourselves to death. Not only did God want you to enjoy your life and the world that He made for us Proverbs 3:24, Psalm 19:1-6. Slow down and smell the roses, my friend! Take time to watch a honey bee on a flower, or a bird in her nest caring for her young! Learn to enjoy the sound of a summer breeze blowing through the limbs of the trees. Watch a young child at play. In all this, give thanks to God for life, and for rest. Not only will the rest make you feel better, it will make you more productive when you do start back to work. Furthermore, others will probably enjoy hanging out with you more if you are a human “Being” and not a human “Doing.” God did not design you to be a machine, but a person.

Just a few thoughts from someone who knows and cares: (Been there, done that). I love you…. And more importantly; God loves you. Rest in Him.

Any thoughts? I would love to hear them. Let’s talk about it.

In Christ Serving,

Larry Epps

Marriage That Reflects God’s Glory

In God’s design marriage was never meant to be an “Ends” but a “Means.”   Marriage is always meant to be a means to demonstrate the love of God to a hurting world.  It is meant to be a means of introducing others to the love and grace of God.  God wants you to be happy in marriage, but your happiness is not the ultimate goal.  Proper alignment with God’s will and design is more important than your personal contentment and happiness.  That happiness and contentment is a by-product of proper alignment. 

Paul was attempting to teach husbands some key truths that must be practiced in order to have a healthy and Godly marriage in the midst of a selfish and sin-crazed world. Let’s look at this passage together: 

Ephesians 5: 25-33     25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 

From this passage we see three key passages that every husband must follow if he wants to love his wife effectively in the midst of a world gone wild:

1. Husbands must love their wives sacrificially (Eph. 5: 25-28).   Paul was talking about marriage here and used the model of Christ to teach husbands that for men to truly love their wives according to God’s plan, they must begin with sacrifice.  We must give up the right to win an argument, to ‘get our way,’ or to look good.  We must be willing to die to self in order to give bring life giving love to overflow our wives hearts. This type of love softens hearts, heals wounds, and washes away the baggage that we all accumulate in life.
2. Husbands must love their wives carefully (Eph. 5: 28-30).  Paul taught that husbands should love their wives the same way that they love and cherish their own bodies.  Men will spend hours in the gym, eat gross food, take vitamins, and spend their money on personal trainers…… all in order to have a healthy and strong body.  What would our marriages look like if husbands would spend just half that time, energy, and money in order to strengthen and “build the muscles” of their marriages?   As Godly husbands, we must be willing to invest time and work in some of these ways: marriage counseling, reading books on marriage, and maybe committing to turn the TV off and turn the romance on for at least an hour per night.   Also, the same way that we pay attention to any pain or ache in our natural body, we must learn to be sensitive to our wives…… in other words…. Pay attention.
3. Husbands must love their wives exclusively (Eph. 5: 31-33).  Paul points to God’s original design for marriage.  Husbands are to be joined to their wife and they two are to become “one flesh.”  There is no room in that union for anyone or anything else.  This includes flirtatious co-workers, pornography addictions, or even some emotional bond that you may enjoy with someone of the opposite sex. Anyone that tries to compete with or threaten my wife’s place in my life needs to be put away with extreme prejudice.  Marriage is honorable and the bed is undefiled, but God will Judge adulterers (Hebrews 13:4).  

Hey Husbands!   Let’s build our marriage muscles!  Let’s build the marriage that we have always wanted!  It is possible…. Hopefully these tools will help.  I am praying for you all.  

In Christ Serving, 

Larry Epps

Bored in Church

Do you find yourself looking at your watch during church? Do you go to church just out of a sense of duty or a sense of responsibility?  Are you bored with Church or your Christianity? Want to spice it up?  You are not like poor Mr. Bean are you?  Are you having trouble staying awake or paying attention?

 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bm9mhX1q4o

Mr. Bean – Church Bore

I know that was a funny video, but some have struggled with taking a “mental nap” during church.  Their mind is asleep or “drifting” while they go through the motions.  We should be alert, plugged in, and being transformed in the presence of God while they are in church.  What is “church” anyway?

Church is:  a place to worship God and learn more about Him, the house of God, “the house of prayer” Matthew 21:12-17, a place where believers can join together for fellowship and encouragement Acts 2: 42-47, a place to enjoy the benefit of cooperate prayer Matthew 18: 18-20, and where believers can give thanks to God as a body of believers Psalm 100.

Knowing that I am not going to church to see what everyone else is wearing or to be a spectator gives me personal motivation to go and participate.  I am going to enjoy the presence and power of God in His House.  My name is on the approved list for a meeting with the most powerful being in the universe.   I can present my problems, pains, and sorrows to the only one who can change everything about my life and circumstances with one word.   I am going to join together with others to celebrate the glory and majesty of the Holy God!  I will have the privilege to lift my voice and bow my knee to the only true judge and creator of everything and everyone that I will ever meet.  What is not to like about any of that?  What is there to be bored about when you look at it like that?  Come and join with me….. Let’s go to the house of God together to worship and learn more about God!

In Christ Serving,

Larry Epps

That Just Makes Me Mad!

Everyone gets angry sometimes right?  Even Jesus God angry: The Bible tells of a time when He made a short whip, walked into the church, and started cleaning house! John 2:13-22.  But is there a cost to your anger?  And in what ways does God address our anger?  Let’s look at it together.  Exodus 32:1-20. 

Moses was up in the mountain-top with God for extended period of time enjoying relationship with the Father and receiving the 10 commandments.  While Moses was up there, God got so angry that he wanted to destroy all of the people; His anger burned.  Moses did what any good pastor would do; he intercedes for the people.  Then, we read that God spared the people.  But let me think outside of the box for a minute.  Maybe the fact that God brought Moses in on his plans was more about Moses than it was for God. Let me explain that: maybe it was so that Moses could see how God went from white hot anger to relenting and calm.  Maybe God wanted to display this so that Moses could see how to better lead God’s people.  Moses did have anger issues: he broke the first set of tablets with the Ten Commandments and also struck the rock.  The one thing that kept him out of the Promised Land was his anger.  When Moses broke the tablets, God made Moses write the second set.  This hints to the fact that God was displeased.  However, as a reward for his failure, God shows Moses his glory.  He did not make Moses wallow in self pity.  He redeemed his failure and kept Moses in His confidence and intimacy.   God desires to prepare us to lead in the same fashion.  God chooses to use broken, flawed, and in-perfect people to lead others and to make a difference in the lives of others.  Thank God for that.  

Will you let God use you in spite of “your mess,” or will you “bench” yourself on the sidelines and wallow in self pity?  Will you submit your anger to God before it causes any more pain in your life or the life of those you love?  

Think about it. 

In Christ Serving, 

Larry Epps