One Great Question, Five Life-Changing Truths about Jesus and His Father

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Wayne Davies


A good question can be the key that opens the door of understanding to the Word of God. I recently experienced this myself.

I’m a member of Broadway Christian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We are currently doing a 12-week study entitled “Steadfast Worship.” Lesson 3 is about “God the Son” and the passage we examined is John 17, in which we get a glorious glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus. Just hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father and we are privileged to know exactly what He requested.

Amanda Campati, our church’s Administrator, wrote questions about this passage for our small groups to reflect on and discuss. Here is Question #1:

How would you describe the relationship between God the Father and God the Son in this text?

I love this question. It caused me to dive deeply into this passage in a way I would not have thought of otherwise. This is an excellent example of how an insightful question can be the catalyst for deeper study of the Word. Thank you, Lord . . .  and thank you, Amanda!

The following comments are my thoughts in response to this question.

There is no other relationship like the one that exists between God the Father and God the Son. It is the most unique relationship in the universe, and it has always existed – from eternity past, the Father and the Son have loved each other in a perfect union of joyful fellowship. We have much to learn from this relationship. Here are five life-changing truths to ponder when we think of Jesus and his heavenly Father.

1-This is a relationship of mutual glorification. It is a relationship that is focused on and exists for the glory of God.

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (v. 1)
Jesus tells the Father (as if He needed to be reminded!) that “the hour has come.” What hour? The hour of Jesus’ death. And what is the purpose of Jesus’ death? That God be glorified, for Jesus’ first petition is that God the Father and God the Son would both be glorified through the coming of this hour.

In the death of Christ, the Father glorifies the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father. In other words, one purpose (or arguably, the primary purpose) of Jesus’ death is the Father’s glorification of the Son, and through the Son’s glorification, the glorification of the Father. Through the crucifixion, the Father honors the Son and the Son honors the Father. It’s not a case of “either/or” but “both/and” – hence the phrase “mutual glorification.”

“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (v. 4)
Jesus has already glorified the Father by living a perfect life for 30+ years. Within a few hours, the ultimate display of His holy obedience will be displayed on the cross. Everything Jesus did was an act of loving submission to His Father’s will. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). In a few hours He would say that this work “is finished” (John 19:30). And what was the purpose and result of the Son’s work on earth? The glory of the Father.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me” (v. 22)
Jesus is fully God, and therefore, from eternity past, has always been God. At the same time, in some mind-bending way that is beyond my comprehension, Jesus refers to His glory as a gift from the Father to him. Even more amazing is that this divine glory that the Father gave to the Son has, in turn, been passed on from the Son to us. Paul echoes this incredible truth in Romans 8:30, for “those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (v. 24)
John Piper wrote a book, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, because the primary purpose of the Christian life, both now and forever, is to see and savor the glory of God in Christ Jesus. What will heaven be like? We don’t go to heaven primarily to “have a good time,” enjoying all the earthly things that make us happy now. Jesus said that we are going to heaven to “be with me” and “to see my glory.” Let that take your breath away! Heaven will be an experience of eternal and infinite joy beyond our wildest dreams – all because we will be in the presence of Jesus and His glory.

2-This is a relationship of submission, obedience, and authority.

“You sent me into the world” (v. 18)
Note how often Jesus mentions that He was “sent” to earth by the Father – five times! (v. 3, 18, 21, 23, 25). Jesus came to earth because the Father sent him. Did Jesus want to come? Of course. But He also came because he willingly submitted to His Father’s will. He obeyed the Father’s command to “go,” because Jesus demonstrated perfect respect for His Father’s authority.

Furthermore, the Father gave the Son work to do, and He did it with joy and to perfection, as indicated in John 17:4.

3-This is a relationship of unity and oneness.

 “We are one . . . you in me” (v. 22-23)
We may not be that surprised to hear Jesus say to the Father, “we are one” (v. 22). We’ve heard that from his lips before. “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). But let’s not let the familiarity of this statement lessen our amazement at its truth. This is a mind-boggling reality. Here we enter the mystery that is the Trinity – one God in three Persons, who have existed in perfect harmony from all eternity. The eternal Son Jesus came to earth and took on human flesh, without ceasing to be God! And while He was here, He continued to experience unbroken fellowship with His Father. Again, let it take your breath away!

4-This is a relationship of love and giving.

“You loved me before the creation of the world.” (v. 24, 26)
The Father and the Son have had a love relationship forever. Long before God spoke the universe into existence, they were experiencing perfect love.

A loving person is compelled to give. Such is the case here. To demonstrate His love for His Son, the Father gave the church to the Son. We are God’s love gift to Jesus. Surely that takes your breath away!

Note the repeated references to this truth:
Jesus refers to recipients of eternal life as “those you have given him” (v. 2)
Jesus has revealed the Father to “those whom you gave me out of the world” (v. 6)
Jesus told the Father, “you gave them to me” (v. 6)
Jesus said, “I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours” (v. 9)
Jesus prayed, “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am” (v. 24)

“For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them” (v. 8)
Jesus saw the Father as the source of the words He spoke, “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken” (John 12:49). All the words that Jesus spoke were a gift from the Father to the Son.

5-This is a relationship of intimacy.

“I know you.” (v. 25)
Jesus’ knowledge of the Father, and the Father’s knowledge of Jesus, is perfect. That is why Jesus said that “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son” (Matthew 11:27).

At the same time, all believers know God, for “this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). We should strive for a deeper knowledge of God in this life, and by the grace of God, we can experience greater intimacy because Jesus has made the Father known to us. “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:26).

How to Apply These 5 Truths

  1. Since the Father and the Son have a relationship of mutual glorification, my primary goal in life should be to glorify the Father and the Son. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). I have known that verse for years, but seeing it realized in the relationship between Jesus and His Father gives it a whole new meaning. If Jesus died and finished the Father’s work for the glory of the Father, and if the Father glorifies the Son through His crucifixion, this motivates me to take my focus on God’s glory to another level.
  2. Jesus’ coming to earth was an act of willing submission to the Father’s authority. This relationship of loving obedience motivates me to obey my Father. If Jesus obeyed the Father, so must I.
  3. Since the Father and Son have a relationship of unbreakable unity, I, too, can strive for unity in all my relationships, both vertical and horizontal. Their perfect harmony is an example for me to follow.
  4. Their relationship of love and giving is also the model and pattern for all my relationships. The gift of the church, from the Father to the Son, came at great cost to both Father and Son. Likewise, genuine love for others should be costly for me. To love people will, at times, be hard and even painful. It is a call to suffering for the good of others. It was for the Father and the Son, so why should it be any different for me?
  5. The level of intimacy between the Father and Son is humanly impossible to attain (at least in this life). And rightly so. They have a perfect relationship! Yet we can still have a life-giving and soul-satisfying connection to the Father, through the Son, that is beyond human understanding. I cannot know God flawlessly, but I can know Him intimately, because Jesus has chosen to reveal the Father to me, and He has given me His Spirit who draws me ever closer. A close relationship with God is the supernatural work of the Trinity. It begins in this life and will be consummated to perfection in the next.
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7 Tips to Help You Refocus on God & His Word

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Wayne Davies

Life can get in the way of our plans. We have good intentions to spend time with God in the Word and prayer, and then before we know it, the day is gone and it didn’t happen.

In her October newsletter, my friend and author Heather Erdmann reflects on this tendency to lose our focus:

“Life is hard. We are pulled in so many directions. There are so many distractions. We have so many challenges, from physical ailments, to mental or emotional distresses, financial burdens, or even social or relational issues.

“Personally, I know I get easily overwhelmed with ‘all the things.’ I recently have begun to ‘hate’ that often overused phrase. But, then I realized that maybe God was using it so often in my daily life to get my attention because I have been letting ‘all the things’ distract me from what is most important–HIM.”

She concludes with an immediately actionable answer to the question,

What do you do to refocus yourself on God rather than on self and all our earthly cares?

7 Tips to Help You Refocus on God & His Word

1. Pray and ask God to help you prioritize Him above all things.

2. Turn my phone onto “focus mode” or “do not disturb”.(Check your phone settings, as you can set it to temporarily turn off all notifications and certain apps so that you can work without distractions.) This one is HUGE for me!

3. If I’m still having trouble knowing what to pray about or how to turn my attention to talking with God, I use prayer books with scripted prayers on different topics. This helps me get into a more prayerful mindset and focuses my heart on Him. I’ve listed a few of my favorites on my website. Click Here if you are interested.

4. Keep a notepad and pen nearby to write down anything that pops into your mind to distract you, and then get right back to your prayer and Bible reading time.

5. Keep praying for help to refocusif your mind starts to wander.

6. Listen to an audio Bible or worship music with your eyes closedto help keep out both visual and audible distractions.

7. Use a Bible reading plan or Bible study journal or guide to keep you focused on the Word.

This is the type of practical, Bible-based advice you can expect from Heather.

To subscribe to her monthly email newsletter, visit
https://www.goodportionpromises.com/subscribe

And while you are there, check out her free “Bible Studies for Busy Days.”

Bible Studies for Busy Days are small everyday Bible studies that you can do in 5-7 minutes per day. They allow you to have the nourishment of God’s Word no matter how time-crunched you may be. They are not meant to replace your regular deeper study of the Bible but instead are small “snacks” to use as a supplement on days when you might otherwise go without opening His Word at all. Plus, you can access them on your phone or mobile device anywhere or anytime you find a few spare moments.

To get your free copy, visit
https://www.goodportionpromises.com/about-bible-studies-for-busy-days

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The Stupidity of Sin (and How to Overcome It)

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Wayne Davies

When I tell people that I am a prodigal son, and that, as an arrogant twenty-something, I decided to quit my job as an Assistant Pastor and leave the faith, I am usually asked,

“Why did you do that?”

 

The short answer is, of course, my sin. I wanted to do my own thing. I followed my heart, which was telling me to make this my mantra: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”

Here’s another way to say it . . .

Like Pontius Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders, I wanted to get rid of Jesus.

Oh, the stupidity of my sin!

I’ve been reading John Stott’s book, The Cross of Christ. (What a great book!)

It contains an in-depth analysis of the humans involved in the death of Jesus, such as Pilate and the Jewish Sanhedrin.

For various reasons, they wanted to get rid of Jesus. He was, and still is, as C.S. Lewis wrote in Surprised by Joy, “a transcendental interferer.”

Here’s how Mr. Stott explains this determined assault on the authority of King Jesus:

“We resent his intrusions into our privacy, his demand for our homage, his expectations of our obedience. Why can’t he mind his own business, we ask petulantly, and leave us alone? To which he instantly replies that we are his business and that he will never leave us alone. So we too perceive him as a threatening rival, who disturbs our peace, upsets our status quo, undermines our authority and diminishes our self-respect. We too want to get rid of him.”

I read the above paragraph a few days ago and thought, that’s it! That is exactly the way I felt back in 1983. John Stott described perfectly my attitude toward Jesus. I had an intense desire to get rid of Jesus because he was invading my space, sticking his nose into my business, and disturbing my peace (according to my depraved way of thinking).

“Leave me alone! Get out of here! I don’t want you in my life anymore!”

How sad, ironic, and infinitely stupid is this – that what is best for us, we can view as what is worst for us. A fool believes there is no God. An even greater fool hears the truth about God and rejects it.

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). What a boatload of truth we find in that verse!

And oh how grateful I am today that God continued to love me even though I hated him. How precious to me now are these words from Psalm 103.

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God had every reason to treat me as my sins deserve and send me to hell. He could have repaid me according to my iniquities, locking me up and throwing away the key forever. But he didn’t. He was “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.”

Do you ever think about the amazing grace of God? Undeserving sinners like us receive exactly the opposite of what we deserve. Is this not incredible?

We deserve his justice; instead, we get his mercy.
We deserve his wrath; instead, we get his forgiveness.
We deserve his condemnation; instead, we get his justification.

“Thank you, Lord. Thank you for your amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. How grateful I am that the stupidity of my sin has been overcome by the lavish outpouring of your mercy through Jesus Christ. How I praise you, Lord, that my sin is no match for your love.”

Have a blessed day, my friend, and please let me know if you benefit from anything in this post by leaving a comment below. I welcome your feedback.

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31 Reasons to Study the Psalms

Posted on September 21, 2022 by Wayne Davies

I just finished my latest book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 42-72 (Psalms Bible Study Guides, Volume 2).

(Volume 1, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41, was released in February 2022 and is also available on Amazon here.)

Why these 31 psalms?

Because the book of Psalms is organized into five “books,” or groups. And Book 2 happens to contain these 31 psalms, Psalms 42-72.

Here are 31 reasons to study these 31 psalms. By reading this book, you will learn:

What to Do When You Get Discouraged or Depressed
3 Compelling Reasons to Rejoice in God
4 Biblical Ways to Glorify God
How to Pray Like David (about Your Sin)
2 Simple Questions that Unlock the Meaning of Any Psalm
10 Great Truths about Our Great God
3 More Ways to Pray Like David
How to Experience Victory through Defeat
How to Find Rest in God
How to See Our Invisible God
What to Do When Reading a Difficult Psalm
3 Characteristics of a Godly Petition

You can read excerpts from the book here:

How to Read the Bible Like Billy Graham (from the Introduction)
https://godwrotethebook.com/how-to-read-the-bible-like-billy-graham/

How to Flourish Like David (Thoughts on Psalm 52)
https://godwrotethebook.com/how-to-flourish-like-david-thoughts-on-psalm-52/

The #1 Reason to Pray for God’s Blessing (Thoughts on Psalm 67)
https://godwrotethebook.com/the-1-reason-to-pray-for-gods-blessing-thoughts-on-psalm-67/

Containing one chapter for each psalm, this book provides insights I have gleaned by studying these sacred hymns for the past 18 years. Ideal for both individual and small group study, each chapter also contains “Questions for Further Study, Reflection, and Discussion” that will guide you into a better comprehension of the psalms by prompting you to interact with the text and apply it to your own life.

Enjoy!

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How to Flourish Like David (Thoughts on Psalm 52)

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Wayne Davies

David wrote about half of the Psalms. He was a gifted writer and musician, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote a host of hymns that have resonated with the hearts of God’s people for centuries.

Psalm 52 is no exception. It ends with these words:

“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.
I will praise you forever for what you have done;
In your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”
Psalm 52:8-9 (NIV 1978)

David experienced much pain and suffering in his life. In his early years, before becoming Israel’s king, he was the victim of undeserved abuse at the hand of King Saul. And after taking the throne, he brought much turmoil on himself as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah.

Yet through it all, he maintained a life of devotion to God. He is described twice as a man “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). And here in Psalm 52 we see David reflecting on his life and saying, “I am like a green olive tree” (ESV). Like any tree, a healthy olive tree should have green leaves and bear fruit. This is what a tree is made to do. This is what it means for it to flourish and thrive.

After comparing himself to a mature, fruit-bearing olive tree, David then proclaims what that kind of life looks like. He takes a personal inventory and sees the evidence of God’s power at work in his attitudes and actions.  And while David praises God for his provision, we get a firsthand account of five characteristics which enabled him to pursue and maintain a godly life no matter what.

Characteristic #1: Acceptance of God’s Forgiveness

“I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God.” Note that David says he is like a fruitful tree in the house of God. The temple wasn’t built yet, so this is a reference to the tabernacle, the place where repentant sinners came to acknowledge their sins and offer an animal sacrifice to symbolize the provision of God’s grace through his forgiveness. A godly life starts here, with the recognition of our rebellion against God and our need for his mercy. When we repent, God is more than willing to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). To live a God-pleasing life, David knew that he needed God’s forgiveness, as evidenced by his writing of Psalms 32 and 51.

Characteristic #2: Faith in God’s Love

“I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.” David was a firm believer in the never failing, steadfast love of God. He had a confident conviction in God’s unwavering commitment to His people. This faith was based on a profound understanding that God knows what is best for us. He can be trusted because He is trustworthy. We can rely on him to take care of us through thick and thin, good times and bad. Just like us, David had plenty of both.

Characteristic #3: Praise for God’s Work

“I will praise you forever for what you have done.” At any point in time, David could look back on his life and see what God had done for him. David recognized God as the ultimate source of all he had experienced in life, and he continued to worship God regardless of his circumstances. The beginning of verse 9 can also be translated, “I will thank you forever, because you have done it” (ESV). David was a thankful man, filled with gratitude for the grace and mercy of God to him, an undeserving sinner.

Characteristic #4: Hope in God’s Goodness

“In your name I will hope, for your name is good.” David was a man of hope. Because of the goodness of God, he had a positive outlook on the future. In Scripture, the word “hope” is not the wishful thinking that says, “I hope I win the lottery.” Instead, it is the strong expectation and certain assurance that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).

Characteristic #5: Fellowship with God’s People

“I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” David did not trust God in isolation from others. His faith and hope were bolstered by a close relationship with other believers. He lived for God with the people of God. This is one of the indispensable marks of genuine faith — identification with and involvement in the body of Christ. The genuine Christian life is not a solo flight. It is lived out in the context of the local church — the family of God, the household of faith.

Reality Check

As you reflect on these key characteristics of David’s life, I urge you to take an inventory of your own life. How are you doing in each of these areas?

Do you regularly and genuinely confess and forsake your sins, going to God directly to express heartfelt sorrow over your faults, as well as the need for God’s power to overcome them? Then, while looking to the death of Jesus as the sole basis for God’s forgiveness, you experience the sweet joy of reconciliation with your Savior.

Do you believe in the sovereign, never-changing love of God? To increase that faith, it is essential that you spend much time in the Word, knowing that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Do you offer praise and thanks to God for His work on your behalf? A true Christian is increasingly enthralled by God’s work of salvation on our behalf through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We never tire of hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ. It is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold!

Do you find hope in the goodness of God? You do not have to travel far or spend much money to experience God’s kindness. Simply open the Bible and you’ll find evidence of His grace on every page. Then take a look at your own life and you’ll see the same God extending that same grace to you.

Are you actively involved in a local church? Do you enjoy spending time with God’s people, worshipping King Jesus together, serving Him together, and becoming increasingly like Him together? If not, something is amiss and you are living outside the will of God.

By the grace of God and the strength provided by the Spirit of God, every believer can flourish by living in the presence of God. May this be my experience, and yours as well.

Questions for Further Study, Reflection, and Discussion

  1. According the heading, David wrote this psalm “When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: ‘David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.’” This incident involving David, Ahimelek, Doeg and Saul is found in 1 Samuel 21 and 22. Take time to read that passage to better understand the background of Psalm 52.
  2. How does David describe Doeg in Psalm 52:1-8, and why? What did Doeg do that caused David to use such strong language?
  3. According to this psalm, what will be Doeg’s ultimate destiny?
  4. In verses 8-9, David testifies to the greatness of God, even after the tragedy involving Doeg, Saul, and Ahimelek. Please take these five characteristics to heart and answer the question posed above: “How are you doing in each of these areas?”

#1 – Acceptance of God’s forgiveness
#2 – Faith in God’s love
#3 – Praise for God’s work
#4 – Hope in God’s goodness
#5 – Fellowship with God’s people

As you evaluate yourself in these five areas, which one(s) do you view as a strength? Which one(s) do you view as a weakness? How can others pray for you as you seek to cultivate these characteristics?

NOTE: The above is excerpt from my forthcoming book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 42-72 (Psalms Bible Study Guides, Volume 2)

Volume 1 of this series is available on Amazon: How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41 (Psalms Bible Study Guides, Volume 1)

 

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This Free Bible Study Will Take You Deep into the Word

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Wayne Davies


What a treasure chest of truth we have at our fingertips. The Bible is an inexhaustible goldmine of divine instruction, “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Why do we read and study the Bible? Why do we strive to understand and believe the Word of God? The passage above tells us – so that God can teach us how to pursue holiness. This assumes our need for God’s loving rebuke, gracious redirection, and merciful discipline, all for the goal of spiritual growth and maturity. Only then can we do the good works “which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

To that end, I’m writing to tell you about a free 11-week Bible study on the book of James that can help you dive deep into the Word in order to be holy, for the will of God is nothing less than your sanctification (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

It’s entitled:

James: Living a Life of Genuine Faith
by Jen Wilkin

Here’s where you’ll find it:

https://www.jenwilkin.net/downloads

This Bible study contains the following resources, suitable for both individuals and small groups:

91-page PDF, written by Jen Wilkin. It contains study questions for each of the 11 lessons. Also contains an Appendix with the ESV translation of James.

If you take the time to answer these study questions, you will benefit greatly. I highly recommend that you write out your answers. Print out the PDF and write your answers on each page, or use your word processor or other device to record your thoughts.

My wife and I did this Bible study in the summer of 2020. Oh, what a meaningful time it was for both of us! We did the homework each week on our own, then got together and shared our answers. It was a rich time in the Word that I will never forget. It brought us closer to the Lord and each other.

You can also listen to Jen Wilkin’s teaching sessions on each of the 11 lessons.

The audio files (approx. 50 minutes each) can be accessed from the following websites:

https://jenwilkin.podbean.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flower-mound-womens-bible-study/id503752876

NOTE: Jen Wilkin is a prolific author, speaker, and Bible teacher. The target audience of her ministry is primarily women, but I find all her materials to be edifying. My wife and I read her book, Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds, which I have recommended before and I am recommending it again, whether you are female or male.

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This No-Cost Bible Study Tool Has 40 Million Users

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Wayne Davies

Here’s an excellent Bible study resource for your PC.

It’s a free software called e-Sword and you can download your copy here:
www.e-Sword.net

I’ve used it for years and have always been amazed that it continues to be offered as a free download. Since the year 2000, it has been downloaded over 40 million times.

 

There’s a boatload of excellent Bible reading and Bible study resources available in this program: various Bible translations, commentaries, dictionaries, and helpful tools that can enhance your time in the Word.

There are also free Christian books by many of my favorite authors: Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Pink, Andrew Murray, F.B. Meyer, R.A. Torrey, John Calvin, A.W. Tozer, E.M. Bounds, and D.L. Moody.

I could go on and on about e-Sword.

I recommend you take the time to download and install the program (which takes less than 5 minutes) and dive in and learn how to use it. Click on “HELP” and then click on “TRAINING” and learn how to use e-Sword through online demos. These tutorials show you how to:

  • Learn the basics for getting started with e-Sword
  • Download additional resources
  • Do Biblical word studies
  • Search the Bible for a specific phrase
  • Search for all occurrences of a specific Hebrew or Greek word
  • Use the Scripture Memory tool to memorize the Word
  • Use the Prayer Requests tool for a consistent prayer life
  • Create a Bible reading plan to encourage you to read the Bible daily

Sure, there are more sophisticated Bible study software programs out there. But they are not free.

That’s what distinguishes e-Sword. You will be hard-pressed to find a resource like this at no charge.

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Billy Graham and His Regrets

Posted on September 4, 2022 by Wayne Davies

Got regrets?

Who doesn’t?

Even Billy Graham had regrets.

I’ve been reading a fascinating book, Ask Billy Graham: The World’s Best-Loved Preacher Answers Your Most Important Questions. It’s filled with the evangelist’s wisdom on a wide range of topics, including family, politics, evangelism, and his relationship with U.S. presidents. My favorite section is entitled, “On Himself.”

Here are a few quotes that stopped me in my tracks.

Do you have any regrets?
“I should have studied more and prayed more and spent more time with my family.”
USA Today, February 5, 1998

What’s the mistake that’s been the hardest for you to live with?
“Not studying enough. I don’t think anybody considers me an intellectual or a very smart man. I’m just an ordinary man. I feel more like a plowboy back on the farm today than I ever did.”
ABC News, Primetime Live, December 30, 1993

You’ve said on a number of occasions that you consider yourself a failure. Why is that?
“I feel that if I had stayed home more, studied more, I would have done more for God and my soul. I needed to grow inside more. I traveled too much, went to too many places, accepted too many invitations.”
CNN’s Larry King Live, May 29, 2005

Here’s the man who preached the gospel to more people than anyone in history, and he wished he had spent more time studying and praying and being with his family.

I find that amazing.

It’s also encouraging to me that he was humble enough to realize this and to talk about it publicly.

I have similar regrets, especially regarding prayer. And I regret how much time I spent at the office, consumed with making more money.

How about you? If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?

Something to think about, pray about, and repent over.

May we all be moved by the honesty of Billy Graham to seek God’s help to live more in accord with His Word and His will from this day forward.

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When Is the Best Time of Day to Read the Bible?

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Wayne Davies

I received this comment recently on the GodWroteTheBook.com blog:

“I have a Bible that my pastor gave to me and I am not sure which time of the day my pastor expects me to read it to gain knowledge of God.”

 

I’m encouraged by this situation for at least three reasons:

1. It’s great to hear that the pastor provided a Bible to this individual. Perhaps this person never owned a Bible before. Can you think of a better way to enhance a person’s life than to give them a printed copy of the Word of God?

Have you ever given someone a Bible? Then you know what I mean.

If you haven’t, why not look for opportunities to do so? Who do you know who would benefit from having a Bible to read, perhaps for the first time? Offer to spend time together, simply reading one book together, one chapter each time you meet. I recommend starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John. After each reading, ask and discuss two straightforward questions:

“What does this passage teach about God (Father, Son, Spirit)?”

“What is my response to this teaching?”

2. I love that this person knows that the purpose of reading the Bible is to “gain knowledge of God.” Amen to that! There are two types of people in the world – those who know God, and those who don’t. Those who know God possess the most precious knowledge in the universe. Without it, we are trapped in a life of futility and are doomed to face an eternity of misery. With it, there is hope for both this world and the next.

“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

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

3. As far as what time of the day is best to read the Bible, here’s a blog post that addresses that question:

Bible Reading Tips – When Is the Best Time of Day to Read the Bible and Pray?
https://godwrotethebook.com/bible-reading-tips-when-is-the-best-time-of-day-to-read-the-bible-and-pray/

(For the past 8 years, this has been one of the most popular articles at GodWroteTheBook.com. Many people are eager to know the answer to this question!)

The psalms offer examples of believers who seek God in the morning (Psalm 5:3), at noon (Psalm 55:17), and at night (Psalm 119:62).

Another biblical response to this question is found in Psalm 1:1-3:

“Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (verses 1 and 3).

Anytime is a good time to spend time with God in His Word. Find what time of day is best for you and cultivate the godly habit of sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him, learning from Him, and delighting in Him. Enjoy!

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The #1 Reason to Pray for God’s Blessing (Thoughts on Psalm 67)

Posted on August 21, 2022 by Wayne Davies

Why do we ask God to bless us? Have you ever thought about that?

Psalm 67 provides a wonderful answer to that question.

 

Verse 1 begins the Psalm with a prayer: “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us.”

What a great petition! Wondering what to pray for today? Here’s a great place to start. Ask God to provide his grace, his blessing, and his face to shine upon you.

If God demonstrates his love for you through these three realities, would you be content in any situation? Should God answer this prayer, do you think you would have a heart filled with joy and gladness? I would think so!

As we continue reading the psalm, verse 2 says, “so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation [may be known] among all nations.” The first two words of this verse are the key that unlocks the meaning of the whole psalm. The psalmist asks God to graciously bless his people so that all nations on earth would know the ways and salvation of God.

Do you see the significance of this prayer? Verse 1, at first glance, and when viewed by itself, seems to be primarily about God’s people and their desire to receive the blessings of God’s goodness. And there is certainly some truth to that assessment.

But the psalmist didn’t stop there. He also included the purpose of this prayer. He is asking God to bless his people for a specific reason: in order that they can be the channel through which God blesses the rest of the world. We are the recipients of God’s grace in order to communicate the beauty of that grace to all nations.

What we have here is an evangelistic prayer for the salvation of all peoples. The rest of the psalm continues this theme.

3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.

Note the repetition of the words “peoples” and “nations.” This Hebrew poet is concerned about the spiritual condition of Gentiles all over the world. He is pleading with God to make his presence known to the Jews so that pagan peoples from every land will worship God with joy and gladness!

Psalm 67 is nothing less than an Old Testament version, in sacred song, of the New Testament “Great Commission” delivered by Jesus to his followers before ascending to heaven:

“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
“Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:27).
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

This is the reason that God spoke to Abraham, an idol worshipping pagan, and led him from Ur of the Chaldees to the promised land of Canaan. Joshua quotes these words from the Lord himself: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods’” (Joshua 24:2).

God spoke to Abraham and told him,

1 “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

The Lord of heaven and earth promised to bless Abraham and his offspring, the nation of Israel, so that all nations on earth would be blessed through God’s channel of blessing, the Jews.

Ultimately, this promise of blessing through Abraham was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, for “He (Christ) redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:14).

Psalm 67, written hundreds of years after God’s promise to Abraham to bless all nations through his seed, continues the theme of God’s love for the whole world. God has always had a plan to make known his ways of salvation to all peoples. And he chose the Jewish nation to be the human means by which this message of redemption would be brought to fruition. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).  We see that in Psalm 67 from start to finish, for verses 6 and 7 repeat the wonderful truth that God blesses us so that he can bless the world through us:

6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

May it be so today!

Questions for Further Study, Reflection, and Discussion

  1. Reflect on the meaning of the three requests found in the prayer of verse 1:
    1) God’s grace;
    2) God’s blessing;
    3) God’s shining face.
    How have you experienced each of these spiritual realities recently? Offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for these gifts from God.
  2. Specifically, how would you like God to answer the 3-fold prayer of Psalm 67:1 today? For yourself? For your local church?
  3. What is your response to the truth that God blesses you and your local church so that you can be a channel of blessing to others? Specifically, how can your answer to Question 2 be turned into a prayer for God to bless those in your community and throughout the world who do not know God’s salvation?
  4. From Psalm 67, what new insights did you learn about God and His purposes for us?

NOTE: The above is excerpt from my forthcoming book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 42-72 (Psalms Bible Study Guides, Volume 2)

Volume 1 of this series is available on Amazon: How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41 (Psalms Bible Study Guides, Volume 1)

 

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