Am I Really A Christian? (Part 4)

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Thomas Boston has written a compelling little booklet entitled Am I Really A Christian? Eight Doubts Answered. (For a free copy, see below.)

Here is DOUBT #7: “Temptations”

“I have never read in the Bible or known about a true child of God who was as tempted or as without God as I am. Since I do not know of any Christian who has ever been in my condition, I can only conclude that I must not be a believer.

“Answer: This doubt comes from ignorance both of the Bible and of the actual experience of Christians. Those who have this doubt should try speaking with a mature Christian friend or a godly minister. Doing this has brought peace to some when they realize that their case is not exceptional and that many Christians have had the same struggle.

“The Bible provides many examples of Christians suffering with horrible temptations.

“The devil tempted Job to blaspheme (Job 1:11-12; 2:3-9). Asaph was tempted to think religion was vain and to throw it off (Psalm 73:13). Christ Himself was tempted to cast Himself down from a pinnacle of the temple and to worship the devil (Matthew 4:5-9).

“Many Christians have not only been attacked with temptations, but they even have been overcome by them and fallen into gross sin for a time. Peter denied Christ, and cursed and swore that he did not know Him (Mark 14:71). Some Christians were compelled to blaspheme under persecution by Paul, before he was converted (Act 26:10-11).”

I like how Mr. Boston states the cause of this doubt plainly: ignorance of both Scripture and experience.

Then he provides the antidote to this ignorance: good Bible teaching.

He concludes by mentioning two other passages that directly address this issue (i.e. thinking that I’m the only person who has ever experienced these temptations):

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one (Jesus) who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15

I thank God for Bible teachers like Thomas Boston.

Am I Really A Christian? Eight Doubts Answered, by Thomas Boston, is available for free in multiple formats here (PDF, ePub, Mobi, Audio):
https://www.chapellibrary.org/book/aira/am-i-really-a-christian-bostonthomas

NOTE: This booklet contains selected sections from Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, by Thomas Boston, modernized for easier understanding by today’s reader. Jeffrey T. Riddle, pastor of Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, provided the abstraction and modernization. Copyright 2015 Chapel Library. www.ChapelLibrary.org

Please let me know if anything in this post is of benefit to you by leaving a comment below.

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The Greatest Knowledge of All

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Wayne Davies

What is “the greatest of all knowledge . . . the most important and most essential knowledge that a person can possess?”(Paul Washer).

Futhermore, what is “the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else?” (J.I. Packer).

The answer to both questions is the same: the knowledge of God.

How do we know that? This is what Scripture teaches. Jesus said so:

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

Jesus defined eternal life as the knowledge of God. In other words, if I possess eternal life, I know God. Consequently, this also means that if I don’t know God, I don’t have eternal life. Without the knowledge of God, I am spiritually dead. If I do know God, I am alive because I have been born again, from above, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and have been brought into a relationship with the living God through faith in His Son.

Paul also defined salvation as the knowledge of God:

6 God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

When Christ returns, He will punish non-believers with eternal destruction by Jesus. These non-believers are described as “those who do not know God” (v. 8).

These are sobering words.

Knowing God is serious business. It is a matter of eternal life and eternal death. If I know Him, I will spend forever with Him. And if I don’t, I won’t.

“It should be obvious that knowledge of God is the most important knowledge that we can possess. As Christians, we should devote our lives to knowing God and making Him known.” (Paul Washer)

Yes, there is nothing more important than knowing God.

To that end, I highly recommend Paul Washer’s Bible study, Knowing the Living God. To get your free copy, click here:
https://heartcrymissionary.com/books/knowing-the-living-god

Posted in Attributes of God, Bible study, Book Reviews, Free Books & Other Resources, Knowing God, Thoughts About God | Leave a comment

How to Pray Like David (Volume 3)

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I’ve been on a journey of spiritual growth for the past twenty years, and a big part of that journey has been spent reading, studying, and praying through the Psalms.

Like many believers, I have come to love the Psalms. They are a bottomless treasure chest of divine wisdom and humble exaltation.

Like all Scripture, they are Spirit-inspired, “breathed out by God,” and “profitable for teaching” (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, they are an indispensable and breathtaking part of God’s glorious self-revelation we call the Bible.

Through the joys and sorrows of men who were “carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21), in the Psalms I can encounter the God of David, Solomon, and Moses, some of the world’s best-known poets.

This is one of the Bible’s primary purposes – to reveal the one true God. As Jen Wilkin succinctly wrote: “The Bible is a book about God” (Women of the Word).

The Psalms are no exception; they accomplish this task perfectly because these sacred hymns are the “pure” (ESV) and “flawless” (NIV) words of God (Psalm 12:6). Like the rest of Scripture, their objective is to unveil the attributes and actions of God.

Only Scripture can disclose the character and conduct of our Creator impeccably.  Therefore, through these songs, God has communicated inerrant and authoritative truth about himself so we can know him intimately and eternally.

Is there anything more essential and exhilarating than knowing God? To know God is to have life, for Jesus said “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Without the knowledge of God, we are doomed to a life of spiritual ignorance and darkness both now and forever. But once the eyes of our hearts are enlightened “in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17), like Paul we realize “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” and consider everything else as “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8-9).

This is why J.I. Packer wrote:

“Knowing God is a relationship calculated to thrill a man’s heart” (Knowing God).

By the grace of God, I have been experiencing this knowledge of God through the Psalms and I now want to invite you to join me on this journey. It is a privilege and a delight to share with you what God has been teaching me about himself.

My new book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 73-106, is now available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats. The Kindle (eBook) version is on sale this week for $0.99. You can get your copy here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKJX3SFT

And please let me know how God uses His Word in your life by leaving a review on Amazon. Thank you!

To read an excerpt from the book (the first chapter — on Psalm 73), click here:
https://godwrotethebook.com/the-greener-grass-of-god-thoughts-on-psalm-73

 

Posted in Thoughts on the Psalms | Leave a comment

Why the Bible Makes Life Make Sense

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Wayne Davies


Heather Erdmann, author at www.TheBibleBasedLife.com, has just released her latest book,

Why the Bible Makes Like Make Sense:
Pursuing a Purposeful Life with a Biblical Perspective

It’s available on Amazon in paperback and eBook formats.

The Kindle version is on sale this week at the introductory price of $0.99, so be sure to get your copy today at

Why the Bible Makes Life Make Sense

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ4MWPKQ

By reading this book, you’ll learn:

  • How the Bible answers all of life’s big questions
  • Your significance and identity in a world sorely suffering from an identity crisis
  • God’s orderly design for marriage, families, and friendships as the key to more meaningful relationships
  • How to make wise and Godly decisions
  • Motivation to get up in the morning as you fulfill God’s plan for your vocation
  • And much more!

Most of all you will have a master plan for your life when you better understand the Master’s plan!

Without hesitation, I gave this book a 5-star review on Amazon this morning.

The author has a “high view” of Scripture. She treats the Bible as what it truly is — the very Word of God — the inspired, authoritative, infallible, and all-sufficient Word — which is exactly how Jesus viewed Scripture. He said “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). This approach to the Bible is sorely needed today.

By reading this book, my faith in God has been strengthened and my joy in God has increased. I pray that God will do the same for all who read it.

Posted in Book Reviews | Leave a comment

The Greener Grass of God (Thoughts on Psalm 73)

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Wayne Davies

The following post is from my new book, available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKJX3SFT

How to Pray Like David:
A Bible Study on Psalms 73-106
Psalms Bible Study Guides, Volume 3

Here’s the chapter on Psalm 73, entitled
“The Greener Grass of God”

 

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

This proverb has been around for centuries.

The Roman poet Ovid, who was alive when Jesus was born, wrote, “The harvest is always richer in another man’s field.”

Our modern version may trace its origin to the 1924 American folk song, “The Grass Is Always Greener in the Other Fellow’s Yard.”

Here’s an excerpt:

The grass is always greener
In the other fellow’s yard.
The little row
We have to hoe,
Oh boy that’s hard.
But if we all could wear
Green glasses now,
It wouldn’t be so hard
To see how green the grass is
In our own backyard.

This proverb communicates exactly what Asaph experiences in Psalm 73. Here we see what happens to a believer when he looks around and compares himself to the wicked, who appear to have a better life.

“For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (v. 3). “Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches” (v. 12).

It is human nature to think that other people’s lives are superior to our own. We are prone to see the negative in our situation and therefore become dissatisfied with what we have. When this discontentment is readily joined to jealousy, anger and bitterness are bound to follow. We are convinced that the unbeliever has greener grass. One bad attitude leads to another, and before you know it, we stop counting our blessings and soon forget the goodness of God. If this is what my life is going to be like, what’s the point of following Christ? “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence” (v. 13).

Such is the downward spiral of a distorted perspective.

Fortunately, Asaph doesn’t remain in this condition. Verses 16 and 17 describe the turning point:

“But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.”

By spending time in “the sanctuary of God,” the psalmist is reminded of the truth of God regarding the final fate of the wicked, and this makes all the difference. In verses 18 and 19 he reflects on what happens to an unbeliever when he dies. More specifically, he recounts what God will do to the wicked on Judgment Day,

“Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors.”

What a difference an eternal perspective can make! Oh, that we would spend more time in the presence of God, hearing the Word of God and its teaching on the ultimate destiny of the wicked . . . and the righteous.

This psalm is a gripping reminder that the so-called “prosperity of the wicked” is temporary while their misery will last forever. Furthermore, it is a breathtaking reminder that no matter what our lot in this life, we have an infinitely brighter future. We have God and the joy of his presence — today, tomorrow, and for eternity. What could be better than that?

We have access to the “green glasses” of Scripture. Let us be like Asaph and wear them every day. Otherwise, our perspective will be twisted and the lies of the devil will hold sway in our hearts.

Instead, may the truth of the Word fill our minds and cause us to sing:

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:24-26

Psalm 73: Questions for Further Study, Refection & Discussion

1. Let’s take a close look at the people in this psalm. The main characters are Asaph, the wicked, and God. Read through the psalm and identify all references to each of these characters. One way is to print out the psalm on a sheet of paper and mark all occurrences of each person. You can highlight each occurrence with three different colors, or use three different shapes (for example, a circle for Asaph, a rectangle for the wicked, and a triangle for God.) Be sure to mark all the various words used to designate each character, including the pronouns (I/me/my for Asaph; they/them/their for the wicked; you/your for God).

You can see how I’ve done this exercise here:
https://godwrotethebook.com/psalm-73-main-characters/

After doing this exercise, look at the overall structure and flow of the psalm. What do you see? What is the progression of thought here? Note the frequency with which the author mentions the main characters in the successive sections of the psalm.

2a. How does Asaph describe the attitudes, behaviors, and final destiny of the wicked? What is true and what is merely his perception?

2b. How does Asaph describe the attitudes, behaviors, and final destiny of himself? How does his attitude change, and why?

In your descriptions above, be sure to include what the psalm says about the heart of Asaph and the wicked. See verses 1, 7, 13, 21, 26.

3. What does this psalm teach us about God and the way He relates to the Asaph and the wicked?

4. What does this psalm teach us about the relationship between our perception of others and the origin of envy?

5. How have you dealt with the temptation to be envious of others, especially non-Christians? How can others pray for you in this regard?

6. Do you ever experience envy of other Christians? How can others pray for you about this?

7. Verses 23-28 contain one of the most precious professions of faith found in Scripture. Which sentences resonate most with you, and why?

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How to Understand Difficult Bible Passages

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Wayne Davies

What can we do when reading a difficult passage of Scripture? Here are ten suggestions:

  1. Pray for God to provide understanding.
  2. Read the passage multiple times.
  3. Read the passage in different translations. My favorites are: the NIV (for ease of readability); and for a more literal rendering, I like the ESV and the NASB.
  4. Discuss the passage with your pastor and other Christian friends.
  5. Consult commentaries or study guides or a study Bible.
  6. Get the big picture of the passage by creating an outline.
  7. Focus on the verses that do make sense. Don’t fret about the hard ones, and don’t obsess about understanding every verse in-depth. After reading the passage several times and keeping the outline in mind, you will probably find verses that you do understand.
  8. Is there a particular verse that you find especially meaningful? Spend time meditating on it and memorizing it.
  9. Work through the four questions of the CRAM method of Bible study:
    C – What does this passage teach about God’s character – his attributes and actions?
    R – What does God require from people in this text?
    A – What does this passage reveal about my attitudes and actions?
    M – How does this passage direct me to trust and treasure Christ?
    For more on the CRAM method, see Erik Raymond’s article here:
    https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/a-tool-for-reading-the-bible-devotionally/
  10. Utilize the principles and practices of the inductive Bible study method, as presented by Kay Arthur in her book How to Study Your Bible. There are three key steps involved — Observation, Interpretation, and Application. Many Bible students ignore or minimize the first step, and that can make all the difference. https://www.amazon.com/How-Study-Your-Bible-Life-Changing/dp/0736953434

Can you think of anything else to add to the list? Leave a comment below.

I take comfort in this: even the Apostle Peter encountered difficult Bible passages. “His (Paul’s) letters contain some things that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16).

Posted in Bible reading, Bible study | Leave a comment

A Free Bible Study on the Psalms

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Here’s some good news . . .

I just finished writing my latest book:

How to Pray Like David:
A Bible Study on Psalms 73-106

 

This is Volume 3 of my series, “Psalm Bible Study Guides.”

Lord willing, I plan to publish it soon on Amazon, but before I do that, I would like to give you a free PDF copy. All I ask is that you read it within the next two weeks and send me an email with honest feedback.

Here’s some more good news . . .

If you read the book and provide feedback via email by October 20, and also post a short book review on Amazon as soon as the book is published, you will be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book.

How does that sound?

If you’re interested, let me know by leaving a comment below. I will then send you the no-cost PDF copy as an email attachment.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn by reading this book:

How to Long for God
Seven Ways to Pray Like David
How to Experience Revival and Restoration
God’s Answer to Life’s Most Important Questions
The Meaning of True Worship
Ten (or More) Reasons to Praise the Lord
Three Ways to Respond to a Crisis
Five Compelling Truths about Judgment Day
The Saddest Psalm in the Bible
The Loving Faithfulness of God

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

NOTE: this book has been published on Amazon and is now available in Kindle and paperback formats here . . .
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKJX3SFT

 

Posted in Free Books & Other Resources, Thoughts on the Psalms | Leave a comment

Psalm 73 Main Characters

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Wayne Davies

One way to see the focus, flow, and meaning of a passage is to identify and mark all references to the main characters visually.

In Psalm 73, there are three main characters; in the text below, notice how each character has been marked with a unique visual identifier:
Asaph (the writer) – italics
The wicked – horizontal line
God – bold

(Another way to do this is to identify and mark the main characters with three different colors or with three different shapes.)

Take a look at the overall structure and flow of the psalm. What do you see? What is the progression of thought here? Note the frequency with which the author mentions the three main characters in the successive sections of the psalm.

PSALM 73 – ESV

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.
11 And they say, “How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.

18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

 

Posted in Thoughts on the Psalms | 1 Comment

How to Energize Your Bible Reading

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Looking for a simple way to energize your Bible reading?

Here’s a suggestion: During the month of October (or any month), pick one book of the Bible and read it repeatedly. By “repeatedly,” I mean that you read it every day, in its entirety, in one sitting.

If you’ve not done this before, I recommend choosing one of the shorter New Testament books. Many of them can easily be read in 20-30 minutes. (See the list below.)

Make it your goal to read this book at least 5 days each week over the next month. I call this the “20 in 30” Bible reading method.

If you don’t want to take a couple of days off each week, you could read the same book every day for 30 days and call it the “30 in 30” Bible reading method.

The exact number of days isn’t the point. The goal here is to so immerse yourself in one book that the Word of God takes center stage in your heart and mind. Repetition is a great teacher, and when you read the same book over and over, God’s truth becomes self-evident and the Holy Spirit will instruct you and give you insights you’ve not seen before, even with familiar passages.

You’ll see the big picture of the book, perhaps for the first time. You’ll get caught up in the overall flow of the author’s thought and understand why it was written and what problem or need of the audience was being addressed.

What do you say? Ready to give it a try?

Here’s a list of the shorter New Testament books that are ideal for this:

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude.

For more detailed explanation of the benefits of reading one book of the Bible repeatedly, in its entirety, in one sitting, please check out my book The Forgotten Bible Reading Method: How to Read and Understand the Bible in 5 Simple Steps.

I’ve also created The Forgotten Bible Reading Method Workbook.

Warning: After you do this in October, you’ll likely want to do it again in November, with another book. Go for it! And let me know how it goes by leaving a comment below.

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Words of Wisdom from the Prince of Preachers

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Charles H. Spurgeon has been one of my favorite Christian authors for several years.

Perhaps you’ve heard of him.

Known as the “Prince of Preachers,” he was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, a Baptist church in London, for 38 years in the 1800’s.

He was a prolific author and is arguably the most widely read and published author in the history of Christianity. Most of his sermons were transcribed and are available in print to this day.

Virtually all his sermons and books, since they are in the public domain, can be found online for free.

His best-known book is a mammoth work entitled The Treasury of David. It’s a commentary on the book of Psalms. I’ve been reading it for years and I’m here to tell you, it is a delight!

No one writes like Spurgeon. No one explains Scripture like Spurgeon. I’d like to introduce you to his writing with some samples (in quotes) from a few verses in the Psalms (in bold).

Psalm 4:1 – Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
“It is not to be imagined that he who has helped us in six troubles will leave us in the seventh. God does nothing by halves, and he will never cease to help us until we cease to need. The manna shall fall every morning until we cross the Jordan.”

Psalm 4:3 — The Lord will hear when I call to him.
“Since God chose to love us he cannot but choose to hear us.”

Psalm 4:6-7 – Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
“The true believer drinks not from the muddy pools of Mammon, but from the fountain of life above. The light of God’s countenance is enough for him. This is his riches, his honor, his health, his ambition, his ease. Give him this, and he will ask no more. Christ in the heart is better than corn in the barn or wine in the vat. Corn and wine are but the fruits of the world, but the light of God’s countenance is the ripe fruit of heaven. Let my granary be empty, I am yet full of blessings if Jesus Christ smiles upon me; but if I have all the world, I am poor without him.”

Psalm 4:8 – I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
“They slumber sweetly whom faith rocks to sleep. No pillow so soft as a promise; no coverlet so warm as an assured interest in Christ.”

Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord.
“Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer.”

Psalm 5:1 Consider my sighing.
“Let us cultivate the spirit of prayer which is even better than the habit of prayer. We should begin to pray before we kneel down, and we should not cease when we rise up.”

Psalm 5:2 Listen to my cry for help.
“To a loving father his children’s cries are music, and they have a magic influence which his heart cannot resist.”

Psalm 5:3 Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice.
“We can sooner die than live without prayer . . .  Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. Devotion should be both the morning star and the evening star. . . Let not our prayers and praises be the flashes of a hot and hasty brain, but the steady burning of a well-kindled fire.”

For free online access to The Treasury of David, visit:
https://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/treasury.php

 

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