In these chaotic times of cultural decay and spiritual apostasy, many believers ask the age-old question, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
A foundation is the most important part of a building. Jesus taught the parable of the foolish man that built his house upon the sand. When the winds and rain came, it collapsed. A building can only stand if the foundations are strong enough to hold it up.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world’s tallest building at 2,716 feet. It uses a 3.7-meter thick raft foundation and 192 piles that are five feet across buried 164 feet deep. One hundred ten thousand tons of concrete were used in the foundation alone.
Why such effort? Because if the foundation buckles, the building will be destroyed with everything in it.
In July 2021, the Surfside building partially collapsed near Miami, FL. As of this writing, 24 people are confirmed dead, with 124 still unaccounted for by officials. It is devasting when a building fails!
Consider our text verse.
Psalm 11:3
3 If the foundations be destroyed,
What can the righteous do?
The word “destroyed” in this verse literally means to beat down, destroy, overthrow, pluck down, or ruin. There is an intention to destroy the foundations in this verse.
In fact, the previous verse explicitly calls out the enemies seeking to destroy the righteous.
Psalm 11:2
“For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.”
David was inspired by God to write Psalm 11 during the first few times Saul tried to kill him while serving in the king. Saul was David’s king, general, and father-in-law had turned on him seeking to take his life. The foundation of David’s citizenship, occupation, family, and safety were crumbling, yet David chose to trust the LORD rather than flee.
Psalm 11:1
“In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?”
If the foundations be destroyed?
Who would be foolish enough to bulldoze the Pillars of the building in which we are living?
Who would be crazy enough to bomb the Bottom of the ship in which we are all sailing?
Who would be suicidal enough to rip off The Wings of the Airplane in which we are all riding?
“If” has become now.
There is an organized effort to destroy the foundations upon which our civilization rests. The wicked, under the direction of Satan, attack the foundations of the righteous. This battle has raged since Lucifer was lifted up with pride against the Almighty.
Satan attacked the foundational belief in God’s Word in the Garden of Eden. Israel’s foundation of worship in the One True God buckled, and with it, the powerful nation crumbled.
We have been relatively safe from the woes of the world in recent generations in America. But now, the battle is at our door. The enemy is making gains at warp speed. Who would have thought our nation’s citizens would accept the corruption, sin, and tyranny of recent years?
Five foundations are being destroyed intentionally in our lives today.
1. National Foundations Under Attack
Language
People are united by language. That’s one reason why legal immigrants to America must learn to speak English. God divided the wicked at the tower of Babel through a language barrier. Furthermore, satan changes definitions of words to cause division. Consider how the meanings of words such as gay, justice, equality, racism, etc., have been altered to hijack the national conversation.
Songs
Throughout history, songs have been written about significant people and to commemorate remarkable events. The National Anthem has brought Americans together for generations. Today, it is a matter of contention for those who are breaking our national foundations.
History
America has been uniquely blessed by God. This fact is evident through a basic understanding of US history. Ungodly people revise history to hide the beauty of our nation, prove its guilt, and recruit others to destroy the foundations.
Laws
America’s laws were based on a Judeo-Christian view of the world and The Holy Bible for much of the history of our country. Progressive politicians seek to “fundamentally transform” our nation through ungodly laws.
Politics
According to Dictionary.com, Politics “are the activities associated with the governance of a country or other areas, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.” Every family, tribe, or nation must have rules to decide differences and delegate power. America’s Constitutional Republic form of government has been under attack for years by those espousing detrimental philosophies such as socialism and communism.
Since America was erected on a Judeo-Christian foundation, her cultural values were anchored in Biblical ideas of morality and spirituality. Although cultural drift from God has been evident since our nation’s founding, it has accelerated exponentially in recent years. The wicked constantly attack biblical values.
Music
Every culture is defined by its music. Popular music in America has become worship hymns to hedonism for heathens. Most music promotes concepts of self-worship, sinful indulgence, and violent aggression. Sex, drugs, and rock n roll were not just the anthem of the eighties. It has become a way of life for a nation.
Entertainment
Heathens have hijacked American entertainment. The intentional poisoning of our nation is evident when you study the history of amusement through television, radio, and celebrity culture.
Monuments / Artifacts
Monuments remind a nation of its history. They remind citizens to learn from the good and bad of history. Artifacts, such as the Constitution, are an anchor for society. No wonder enemies who attempt to destroy our cultural foundations attack monuments and artifacts.
3. Social Foundations Under Attack
Family
The family is the building block of every society. The historical idea of a family consisting of one husband, one wife, and children is under attack more than ever. Widespread divorce, same-sex marriage, and children born out of wedlock wreak havoc on the family, thereby causing the foundations of our nation to crumble.
Gender
God made two genders. In the beginning, he created a man and a woman. If truth deniers can get you to surrender this fundamental truth, there is no end to their tyranny.
Sexuality
Nature itself teaches us that God made men and women to fulfill sensual desires for one another. The Bible goes further, stating that these pleasures should only be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage. Sodomy, homosexuality, cross-dressing, lesbianism, gay, bisexuality, pedophilia, beastiality, bisexuality, and pansexuality are sinful departures from God’s original intent. It is an attack on the person, the family, and the culture at large.
4. Personal Foundations Under Attack
Who am I?
The Bible teaches that you are a special creation of God created for a meaningful purpose. Other worldviews attack that foundational belief contending that you are a cosmic accident with a meaningless existence.
Why am I here?
The Bible teaches you are here to fulfill God’s will for His glory, bringing Him pleasure through fellowship and obedience. Those who reject God replace Hom with all manner of foolish philosophies. When these attacks on this bedrock belief are followed to their logical conclusion, they lead to hedonism, existentialism, determinism, and/or nihilism.
What is my place in the world?
God teaches us to find meaning in Him through acceptance of His truth and belief in the Saviour. The enemies of God teach that you can only find meaning in yourself and must make others see your version of the truth.
Personal Liberty
God teaches us that we can be made free from sin to live righteously. Satan attacks this foundation by teaching that liberty is a license to sin without consequence.
5. Spiritual Foundations Under Attack
The Person of God
Unbelievers attack the Person of God as revealed in His Word, transforming Him into a false god of their own creation.
The Word of God
The wicked spread the lie that the inspired, preserved, inerrant, and indestructible Word of God is simply a book of fairytales written by men.
The House of God
The local church, the pillar and ground of truth, made up of saved, baptized believers, has been turned into a social club of pride and lasciviousness by the unprincipled who are knowingly or unknowingly lead by the evil one.
The People of God
The holy people of God have been corrupted by the sins of the people they were meant to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In their pride, they reject passionate preaching of the Word, preferring teachers who will tickle their ears and rubber-stamp their carnal desires.
Those statements paint a pretty dire picture! What Can The Righteous Do when the foundations are being destroyed?
There is only one thing for us to do when the foundations we rest upon are crumbling. WE MUST TRUST THE LORD!
Thanks be to God, there is a part of our foundation that can never be moved!
Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of our spiritual foundation.
Ephesians 2:19–22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Christ is the King of a Kingdom that can never be shaken or moved. Through salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, believers are part of this eternal Kingdom.
Hebrews 12:27–29
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
What Can The Righteous Do when the foundations are being destroyed?
Psalm chapter eleven not only asks this all-important question but also gives us the answer.
Psalm 11:1 professed David’s trust in the LORD.
Psalm 11:1
“In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?”
After the pointed question in Psalm 11:3, the rest of the chapter reminds us of Who the LORD is in truth. These verses remind us to trust in the LORD when the foundations are destroyed.
Let’s study Psalm 11:4-7 to learn six ways we can trust the LORD when the foundations are being destroyed.
1. Trust the LORD’s POSITION.
Psalm 11:4
The Lord is in his holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven:
His eyes behold,
His eyelids try, the children of men.
The LORD abides in Heaven far above the sinful mess we call Earth. His position is not in question. There is no challenge to His office. There is no threat to His reign. He is the Judge of the Universe!
2. Trust the LORD’s AUTHORITY.
Psalm 11:4
The Lord is in his holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven:
His eyes behold,
His eyelids try, the children of men.
God Almighty is in total control. He is safely upon His throne. Even when surrounded by chaos and disorder, we can receive comfort knowing that Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. One day every knee will bow. What a glorious day that will be!
3. Trust the LORD’s VISION.
Psalm 11:4
The Lord is in his holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven:
His eyes behold,
His eyelids try, the children of men.
The LORD sees all. No sin escapes His judgment, and no righteous act will miss its reward. All things are naked unto our great God Who sees all.
4. Trust the LORD’s GOODNESS.
Psalm 11:5
The Lord trieth the righteous:
But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
The LORD tests the righteous for their own good. As gold is refined by fire, so testing removes the dross of our lives to make us more like the Master. Those who delight in hurting others are detested by our righteous and loving LORD.
5. Trust the LORD’s JUDGMENT.
Psalm 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone,
And an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
The wicked are dealt with very differently than the righteous. If they reject the love of God found in the Gospel of Christ, they reject grace and reserve themselves for severe judgment. Eternal torment in hell is the end of those who reject Jesus Christ.
6. Trust the LORD’s LOVE.
Psalm 11:7
For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness;
His countenance doth behold the upright.
The LORD loves righteousness and hates iniquity because He is righteous. He is good and merciful. He always does what is best. The songwriter reminds us that when you can’t trace His hand, you can trust His heart.
God loves you. When you accept the person of Jesus Christ and receive Him as your personal Saviour trusting His death, burial, and resurrection to save your soul, you become a child of God. He will care for you as a loving Heavenly Father.
CONCLUSION
When the foundations are destroyed, the righteous must continue to trust the LORD.
God can make a way when there is no way. Christ can win the war when it seems all is lost. The LORD can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat!
Although the heathen rage against the LORD and against His Christ, we know the final score. By God’s grace, we can have a peace that passes all understanding and sleep comfortably in the ship as the storms rage and others fear.
Psalm chapter eleven reminds us of six reasons to trust the LORD.
Trust the LORD’s:
Position
Authority
Vision
Goodness
Judgment
Love
In truth, the simplest answer for every question is “Trust the LORD.”
Compromise is a spiritual plague sweeping across Christendom. Learn how to recognize spiritual compromise so you can prevent it from destroying you and your church.
Every generation must fight its own battles over compromise. If we are to successfully steward the Truth and pass it on to the next generation, we have no choice but to understand compromise, recognize it, and reject it.
What is compromise? The word has two main definitions.
The first definition of compromise is “to come to agreement by mutual concession.” This form of compromise is beneficial and necessary in every relationship of life. No one gets their way all the time.
The second definition of compromise is “to make a dishonorable or shameful concession.” This form of compromise is always wrong. Especially when it comes to the things of God. He is the only One Who should always get His way.
Christian compromise is making shameful concessions to God’s Word and Will. It is departing from the Truth. A compromiser is one who leaves the doctrines and principles of God’s Word to reconcile a competing philosophy or way of life.
It is wise to distinguish between compromisers and the unlearned. Not every Christian who holds an unbiblical position is a compromiser, heretic, or apostate. Some caustic preachers use those titles for anyone who doesn’t agree with them. We ought not to paint with such a broad brush.
Many well-meaning people are doing the best they know how with what they have been taught. Some of these unlearned Christians are more devoted than those who understand the Truth more perfectly. Wouldn’t it be great if some of them were teachable and willing to grow like Apollos? If so, we will need some Aquilas and Priscillas to guide them with love and patience.
A compromiser is one who knows the Truth and rejects it. Once, they accepted God’s Word on a matter, but now they water it down or reject it completely.
There are many notorious examples of compromise among Christians. Examples of well-known preachers who have compromised are numerous. Countless more cases are not well-known.
Why do so many people compromise? Here are a few thoughts.
1. Satan is good at his job.
Little compromises lead to big changes. Satan didn’t encourage Eve to become a serial killer. He convinced her that the “forbidden fruit” was no big deal. In fact, the Accuser convinced her that God was keeping her back from something that would improve her life – even make her a god! Countless Christians over the ages have fallen for the same lies. It’s the same play with different actors. We must be wise to the tricks of the Devil. We are not ignorant of his devices.
2. Most younger Christians have never experienced spiritual compromise from its genesis, so they don’t recognize it in its beginning stages.
They have heard of compromise in the past, but Satan veils it in each generation with new issues, people, and contexts. Often, the Devil frames compromise as “progress.” Young adults have seen the end of compromise, but not its beginning and progression.
The older saints who have seen compromise before recognize it immediately. However, when they begin to warn others of current compromise, too many younger Christians cry foul. The elder saints get accused of being too “old,” “rigid,” “unwilling to keep up with the times,” and “refusing to grow.”
3. Our sinful flesh wants us to compromise. “Don’t be so rigid,” our flesh exclaims. There is a part of us that wants to experience the pleasures of sin. Also, it longs to be liked and accepted at any cost. The sin nature desires the path of least resistance.
4. Compromise is popular. Nowadays, to be truly popular amongst unbelievers, you only need to take an unbiblical position. If you were a sodomite coming out of the closet or a “transitioning” Baptist preacher promoting “diversity,” you would be lauded on the nightly news and booked on the popular talk shows. However, you will be maligned if you preach against sin and take a stand against wickedness.
If you want to be popular, don’t be a Bible preacher.
Luke 6:26
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
Beware if everyone is speaking well of you. A preacher needs the heart of Christ and the hide of a rhinoceros.
Every generation must fight its own battles over compromise.
Can you recognize compromise? Let’s compare spiritual compromise to a body and look at its anatomy.
The HEAD of Spiritual Compromise.
Typically, compromisers are steeped in pride. They feel they know better and develop a critical spirit. They become judge and jury of right and wrong. Compromisers are critical of inconvenient truths and open-minded to new philosophies. A critical spirit is the Devil’s ally. God wants us to be discerning but never critical. The difference between the two is more than semantics. It is vital.
Once you become cynical and critical, you are well on your way to error. The Pharisees missed the Christ they were waiting for in part because their pride made them so critical that they could find no good in Him. Don’t make the same mistake.
Compromisers are critical of old-fashioned church services, hymns, fundamentalism, soul winning, standards of righteousness, preachers, churches, and even the King James Bible.
Don’t start down that road. Be discerning, but not critical.
The HEART of Spiritual Compromise.
Although there are exceptions, the compromiser is convinced that his heart is in the right place. He “wants to do right” and is “trying to please the Lord.” Often, compromisers feel that their “eyes have been opened” and now they must be “true to themselves.” I’m sure that’s how Eve must have felt right before the first bite of the forbidden fruit. However, she was deceived, and her husband followed her lead plunging the human race into chaos and damnation.
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
The heart is deceitful. Don’t trust your heart. Trust God, His Word, and the faithful Christian leaders He put in your life to guide you.
Once a preacher is deceived, he preaches the lies that he has believed.
Jeremiah 23:26
“How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;”
Guard your heart. Protect it from Satan’s devices.
The mind of a compromiser is filled with questions and doubt. The Devil is the master of asking questions to create doubt then supplying the wrong answer to the questions that he encouraged.
Doubt is normal. We all have doubts at times. In fact, you can’t have faith if you don’t have some doubt. Trust in God’s Word is the answer. Do you believe God? Do you believe His Word? Put your faith in that and doubt will flee.
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Compromisers lean too heavily on their own understanding. They rely on faulty logic and hyper-critical thinking at the expense of simple faith in God’s Word.
Also, the compromiser chooses a pragmatic approach to ministry. They are more interested in “what works” than what God commanded. Want a crowd? Throw a concert. Does someone say they can’t understand the Bible? Get them one that’s watered down and “easier to understand.” Listeners don’t like preaching on certain subjects? Don’t mention them.
It’s a good thing the prophets of old didn’t take that approach. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah didn’t choose an easy path when the ministry God called them to was difficult and people didn’t listen.
Just keep following the Bible and the Spirit. Do everything God has commanded you. Leave the results up to Him.
The EARS of Spiritual Compromise.
The ears of a compromiser are tuned into those who have compromised or those who encourage them to do so. They don’t hear or heed the warnings of the faithful.
Who do you listen to? Who are you allowing to influence you? What authors do you read? What preachers do you listen to? Don’t lend your ear to backsliders, compromisers, or apostates. They will affect you adversely. Unbiblical instruction will cause you to err from the truth. Stop listening to it.
Proverbs 19:27
“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”
The EYES of Spiritual Compromise.
Too many Christians are looking to compromised preachers and ministries for direction and ideas. It is a fact that you tend to move towards what you are looking at. That’s why it’s important to “keep your eyes on the road” when driving.
You might find a few things of value rummaging through the city dump, but the stench will stick to you long after you leave. Every compromiser can teach you something of value, but you can’t help but be moved toward error in the process. You can find the truths you need from the Scriptures, faithful preachers, and Christian writers who have not bowed to Baal. Keep your eyes on the prize.
The HANDS of Spiritual Compromise.
Once the mind and heart are compromised, the hands are sure to follow. Compromisers don’t obey the Scriptures. They seek to do the right things in the wrong ways.
God was not happy when King David put the Ark of the Covenant on a cart like the Philistines, and a man lost his life for it.
We should do the right things in the right ways. The Bible is not just a book of philosophies. It contains the methods we are to use. It is not only our message but also our manual.
New ideas, technologies, and methods must be carefully compared with Scripture before implementation. New opportunities can be beneficial in carrying out the great commission, but others will violate Scripture. Choose wisely.
The FEET of Spiritual Compromise.
Compromisers spend time together. Their feet walk the same path.
Amos 3:3
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Which conferences do you attend? Who do you spend your time with? Who do you seek counsel from? One man said, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” How true!
The SPINE of Spiritual Compromise.
Typically, the compromiser loses his resolve to stand for truth and right. They categorize the unpopular principles of holiness as “gray areas” and expand the list the things that “God doesn’t care about.”
With a laser focus on their flawed definitions of love and grace, they leave the commandments of God and begin to fulfill the desires of man.
As Moses was on the mount talking to God, Aaron was fashioning a golden calf at the people’s request. You can’t please God and man all the time. Focus on pleasing God and leave the results up to Him.
Unfortunately, compromisers tirelessly criticize those who strive to stay faithful to God. It seems that by attacking those who still hold to the doctrines they left, they seek to soothe their conscience.
The speech of the compromiser reveals the machinations of his heart.
Matthew 26:73
“And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.”
Peter’s speech betrayed him to those at the fire during the trial of Christ. In the same manner, the speech of compromisers exposes them.
Some years ago, a faithful church member came to me after a sermon about holiness in the Christian life and said that the message was legalism. The member had never used that term in the years that I knew them. I replied, “You know that’s a term that means adding works to salvation, but the liberals use it to criticize people like us who believe in personal standards of righteousness. Who have you been listening to?” Their speech exposed them.
Using buzzwords, phrases, philosophies, questions, and arguments promoted by known compromisers and unbiblical movements are an indicator of corrupt influence taking root.
Fill your heart and mind with good, and your speech will take care of itself.
Conclusion
Many good men have compromised. None of them woke up one day and said, “I’m going to compromise the principles of God’s Word upon which I’ve built my life and ministry.”
Compromise is a slow process. It is a thousand small concessions in the heart and mind that eventually wear away the truth.
May God protect us from compromise! Let’s resolve to be faithful to God and His Word as He strengthens us so we can win more souls to Christ. Determine to recognize and reject compromise so we can pass on the unvarnished truth to the next generation.
Salvation is beautiful. Although we can opine about the theological perfection of the doctrines of salvation, we must never forget the beauty of salvation.
I was born again at a youth revival on a Saturday evening. It was the second night of a two-day youth revival at the Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Jasonville, Indiana. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Friday night, the guest preacher (who would eventually become my youth pastor) preached a message entitled “Watching Jesus Die.” It seemed as though I were sitting on a hillside watching Christ go through every moment of the Crucifixion.
On the next night, Pastor Jerry Ross preached on Hell. I could smell the sulfur and hear the crackling of the flames. I put my faith in Christ that evening. Praise God, I have never been the same! I went to bed that night with the perfect peace of knowing that if I did not wake up in this life, I would be in Heaven with God. I was saved from Hell! I was born again as a child of God! What an unspeakable gift!
My salvation is just as real and as precious as it was that first night. Hallelujah, my eternal life has barely begun! Why then do I take my salvation for granted at times? You know what I mean. It is human nature. Familiarity can breed contempt or, at the least, disregard.
If you have been saved for a while, you probably have been there. The joy of salvation fades. Service that was once a privilege becomes drudgery. In the past, your eyes would fill with tears quickly at God’s goodness, but how long has it been since you wept over God’s love and care for you? It probably has been too long.
Years ago, I heard an old preacher say, “Some of you have been saved too long.” I understood his meaning immediately. He was saying that some believers were too far removed from their salvation. They had forgotten what it was like to be lost. The miracle of salvation had not waned in its effectiveness, but its impact in their consciousnesses had faded.
Often, I remind our congregation, “Don’t get too far away from the Cross. Visit Calvary often. Relive your salvation. Remember that you should be in Hell. Recall the miracle of forgiveness and eternal life so freely given by the amazing grace of God.” Our Lord knows that we are a forgetful people. He warned us to remember on purpose, lest we forget, what is most important.
Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
Deuteronomy 6:12
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deuteronomy 8:11–14
Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Psalm 103:2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Proverbs 3:1
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Proverbs 4:5
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Matthew 16:9
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mark 8:18
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
These verses are only a sampling of what the Scriptures teach about our need to remember and not forget. It would be very instructive for each of us to perform a word study using those words in Scripture. How quickly we forget! Jehovah lamented the waning of love of the Israelites.
Jeremiah 2:2–5
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
How sad! Can you sense the pain of the Lord in these verses? He compares His relationship with Israel to that of a married couple. I have seen the scenario many times throughout the years. A couple is so excited to get married. They cannot get enough of each other. They stand at an altar and pledge their undying love. They plan to live happily ever after.
Over time, the newness of marriage wanes. The couple realizes how busy life really is. They barely talk unless it is about business or to argue. They are like roommates rather than love birds. What happened to the exciting love of their engagement and early years of marriage? Do not let that sad story happen to your relationship with God!
While regeneration is theologically perfect and impressive in its technicalities, we must never lose the awe of God’s love for us. Although, there are duties in the Christian life, we must never become so bogged down by our activities that we neglect the incredible privilege of having an intimate relationship with God.
This book is written to remind us that salvation is beautiful. I pray that as you read it, there will be many times when your eyes moisten with tears. I hope that you will put the book down occasionally and marvel at God’s love for you. Our salvation is beautiful!
This article is the introduction to my book entitled “The Beauty of Salvation.” God describes the elements of salvation with powerful symbols and metaphors. The doctrines surrounding our salvation express God’s unending love and inconceivable sacrifice in moving ways. Learn doctrines such as:
Conception
Propitiation
Adoption
Imputation
Regeneration
Justification
Remission
Redemption
Reconciliation
Sanctification
Glorification
Christians will be captivated by salvation’s beauty once again as they read this simple book. They will marvel at God’s unspeakable gift and fall in love with Him all over again.
You can get your copy of the paperback book at HERE. Use the Coupon Code PEC$3 for three dollars off to my readers.
Modern Christians are soft. Do you want to make a difference for Christ? It will require a return to the pioneer Christian spirit of days gone by. Learn how to reclaim a missionary spirit for Christ.
Jesus Christ, our Lord, left His people with an audacious goal. Preach the Gospel to every creature. Every generation of believers is responsible for going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to everyone alive.
Some generations have done better at this task than others. We cannot rest on the accomplishments of bygone days. We must not solace ourselves with great stories of yesteryear. History is still being written. This is our time.
We were handed the baton of the Great Commission. Will we give all we have in our leg of the race? Will we stroll along in comfort while Satan deceives the world? Will we stumble with the glorious Gospel as Hell enlarges herself to accept more prisoners?
The decision is up to us. Our story has yet to be written. History will record the decisions we make today.
Comfort is the enemy of the Gospel. Luxury is a prison without walls for the people of God.
It’s impossible to take up your cross and follow Christ if you refuse to get uncomfortable.
Will we exhaust ourselves in the ministry of the glorious Gospel, or will we succumb to the temptation of a comfortable life?
I believe the answer is found in a missionary spirit. If you have this spirit, you will strive for the eternal. If you don’t, you will be lulled to sleep by the siren song of pleasure.
What is a missionary spirit?
The missionary spirit is an unyielding commitment to reach sinners regardless of personal cost!
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was accomplished by the same power available to you today. Learn how Christ won resurrection victory over four significant foes.
Resurrection – to come alive again after death. Imagine the significance of that power!
Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay for our sins. He died and was buried. Three days later, He fulfilled His promise to arise from the dead.
The song “He Arose!” so aptly says:
Up from the grave, He arose!
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.
He arose the Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in human history.
As we progress in our Christian life, we must build the character to pray faithfully. Learn how to pray to God consistently by building an effective prayer life in this article.
Most Christians don’t have a stable prayer life. A study conducted years ago found that the average Christian who participated only prayed for 3 minutes a day. Too many believers only get serious about prayer in crisis.
Multitudes of people know how to pray but don’t do it consistently. Some Christians used to be excellent prayer warriors but don’t pray much at all anymore.
If you are a Christian, you must learn to pray to God consistently. Most of us will admit that we don’t pray as much as we should.
Do you want to be a prayer warrior, or are you content to be a prayer “whiner?” The first powerfully affects his world through effective prayer. The second only pray when times are tough, usually whining about circumstances rather than claiming victory by faith.
Do you pray consistently every day? Do you receive regular answers to prayer? Do you feel close to God?
You can!
Here are six tips to help you pray faithfully and build an effective prayer life.
1. Determine to Build a Prayer Life.
Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
The phrase “continuing instant in” is one Greek word that means “to persevere, to be constantly diligent, to adhere closely to.”
Prayer should be a matter of diligent character. You must pray on purpose, or you will not pray.
Since prayer is one of the most spiritual exercises you can do, your flesh will fight against it. Also, the devil will work to keep you off of your knees. He knows that you can only affect eternity when walking close to God.
Don’t just have a prayer time. Determine to build a prayer life.
Consider these verses as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Typically, preachers use these verses to discuss importunity (persistence) in prayer. We will discuss that in a later article. However, we must be consistent in prayer before we can be persistent in prayer.
Is there a best time to pray? Certainly, there is no wrong time to pray. As a young Christian, I would pray at night. One day the Lord showed me that I was getting beat up all day and then receiving help from the Lord at night. Why not pray in the morning and have His support all day long?
I began starting my day with prayer and have been blessed over the years because of it.
Start your day with prayer. That’s what Jesus did. Sometimes, He would get up long before dawn to pray. If our sinless Lord started His day with prayer, how much more should we!
Mark 1:35
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Here’s a helpful tip. Schedule multiple times a day to pray. Emergencies happen, and schedules get turned upside down. If you miss your primary prayer time, you will have gaps in your schedule to make it up later in the day. For example, you could plan to pray for ten minutes during your lunch break.
David prayed multiple times a day.
Psalm 55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: And he shall hear my voice.
It is wise to plan a time of prayer in the morning, around noon, and in the evening.
3. Pick a Place to Pray.
A time and place of prayer become an anchor making sure you don’t drift from God in the busyness of life.
Jesus loved to go to the mount of Olives.
Luke 22:39–41
And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
What was the Mount of Olives like? Read this excerpt from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
OLIVES, MOUNT OF Two-and-a-half mile-long mountain ridge that towers over the eastern side of Jerusalem, or more precisely, the middle of the three peaks forming the ridge. Heavily covered with olive trees, the ridge juts out in a north-south direction (like a spur) from the range of mountains running down the center of the region. Both the central Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus, the peak on its northern side, rise over 200 feet above the Temple Mount across the Kidron Valley. It provided a lookout base and signaling point for armies defending Jerusalem.
David crossed the Mount of Olives when fleeing Absalom (2 Sam. 15:30). Ezekiel saw the cherubim chariot land there (Ezek. 11:22–23). Zechariah described how the Mount of Olives would move to form a huge valley on the Day of the Lord (Zech. 14:3–5). Many crucial events in Jesus’ life occurred on the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30; Mark 11:1–2; Luke 4:5; 22:39–46; Acts 1:9–12).
Jesus had a favorite place to pray. You should have a place to pray too.
Pick a spot at home that is comfortable and quiet. Pray there often.
Also, you can pick a place to pray outdoors. Perhaps a particular place or a route that you walk and pray.
It’s easy to get out of your spiritual rhythm when you travel. Remain faithful to prayer when you are out of your daily routine by choosing a new place to pray while you are away. For example, when I stay in a hotel room, the first thing I do after I put down my luggage is choose the place to pray.
Pick a spot. Own it. Use it daily.
4. Use a List to Pray.
A prayer list will focus your attention and keep your mind in a state of prayer.
Create a list that works for you. It could be handwritten or typed. You can use a notebook or journal. Make your list easily accessible so you can have it with you during your primary prayer time.
A beautiful and over-organized list is no help if you don’t have it with you when it’s time to pray. Prioritize function over form in your prayer journal.
If you prefer, you can create a prayer list for smartphone or iPad and sync it to all your devices.
Regardless of the method of you choose to house your list, make a prayer list and use it daily.
5. Keep a Record of Prayer.
A record helps you be consistent in prayer. It records your habits so you can be encouraged or make adjustments when you slip.
A good record includes four elements:
Date: When you pray.
Time: How long you pray.
Results: Answers to prayer.
Streak: How many days in a row you have prayed.
Space: Room to write how God moves in your heart.
Make the commitment to record your prayer habits. You can buy a prayer journal or create one on a simple sheet of paper. Also, you can create one in a spreadsheet or document and sync them on your devices.
6. Select An Accountability Partner
It’s human nature that we excel in almost every area when we have a partner. A partner provides encouragement, companionship, and accountability.
When we struggle to find the methods or motivation to succeed, it is wise to enlist someone to help. For the same reason people lose more weight with a trainer, you will build the character and consistency to pray faster with help.
All you need to do is ask someone you trust to be your accountability partner for prayer. They will check up on you at regular intervals. Also, they have your permission to inquire about your walk with God at any time.
Of course, we are accountable to God ultimately. However, it helps to have someone with skin to keep you on track.
Give it a shot. It may surprise you how much of a difference it makes.
CONCLUSION – How To Pray Faithfully
Only through faithful and passionate prayer can we subdue the flesh, pursue sinners, and glorify God.
Determine to build a prayer life.
Choose a time to pray.
Pick a place to pray.
Use a list to pray.
Keep a record of prayer.
Select an accountability to partner.
If you faithfully include these six ingredients in your prayer life, you will remain faithful and see exciting results. Take a few minutes to renew your commitment and implement these instructions right now.
