In a recent article, I noted that there are 5 steps to successful learning. I used the fingers on a hand as an example. They were the little finger, the ring finger, the middle finger, the index finger and the thumb. I then applied these 5 fingers to steps to success in memory. Then I moved the application to a study and memory of the Bible. The percent of retention from memory was, theoretically, 100% and all the way to hearing which was 5 to 10 per cent. These percentages were purely academic and had little import spiritually. However, I do think they are accurate.

Considering these five steps in the Christian life is totally different. The value of each finger whether hearing, reading, studying, memorizing or meditating is equally essential to success.

What you read can change your life. What you hear can change your life. What you study can change your life. What you memorize can change your life. What you meditate on can also change your life.

Please note also that if you lose your thumb finger the other four become basically head knowledge and of little personal value.

If you want your life changed or if you want your life to be improved, consider these very significant areas your life. And also take note that James 1:25 says that it’s not the hearer, but the doer of the Word that will be blessed.

Let’s take an inventory of your activities:

1) Do you hear the Word of God on a regular basis?

2) Do you have a system of faithfully reading and marking your Bible?

3) Do you have a system of personal, non-group, Bible study? (the quiet time)

4) Do you have a system of review that enables you to remember a verse memorized?

5) Do you have a system that allows you to meditate on verses throughout the day?

If your answer to all of these questions is in the affirmative, you are well on your way to producing fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. (John 15)

Remember that success in these exercises is in the doing not the knowing!

Prayerfully evaluate your life in each area, make any adjustments and just keep moving.

May the Lord bless you, as you travel on.

This is perhaps the most famous and oft quoted line from the writings of William Shakespeare. It is found in Act 3, Scene 1 in Hamlet. The words express the anguish of one who has a very critical decision to make. He is overwhelmed and distraught. In essence what Hamlet is asking is: do I fight or do I give up.

The Bible speaks of another man, the apostle Paul, who faced a struggle that seemed to be overwhelming. These, however, were spiritual problems, not political and to give up was not an option. Romans chapters 7 is reflective of the struggle he faced, and which every believer faces: “I do what is wrong when I want to do what is right.” Every Christian is tempted in this way, and when the Bible says all have sinned, it means exactly that.

Society says there are at least three categories of people: the good, the bad, and the indifferent. God says there are only two: the lost and the redeemed. Both groups however face the same question that both Hamlet and the Apostle had to answer do I stand and fight or run and hide.

This conflict is summarized in Romans 7: 19: ” For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” This of course is the principle of free choice. An example of this dilemma is found in the in the book of Genesis. When the Serpent approached Eve, he gave her the opportunity to disobey God. She had a choice, do what is right or do what is wrong. We all know the choice she made.

Do you recognize what Paul is facing? He recognizes that too often he chooses to do what is not right, and he does not like it. In desperation he asks the question that every believer has asked at one time or another and immediately he gives the answer.

“Oh, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:24,25)

If we struggle with sin in our own strength, we will have a problem, and that problem is spiritual defeat. However, when we do sin, we should immediately claim the promise of first John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Also, ” He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

Do not let Satan deceive you. It is not a question of “to be or not to be,” but it is a decision to “confess and go on.” And when you do this your Heavenly Father wipes the slate clean, and you have a new beginning. Our God is an awesome God!

This is a question that has been asked by people of every language for centuries.

The answer is very clearly taught in the Bible.
” Why do the nations say, where is their God? Our God is in the heavens…..….” (Psalm 115 :3.)
Yes, our God he is in heaven; but he is also in the world today, living in the hearts of those who put their trust in Him.
Jesus said: ” If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father,
and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever——- the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15-17).
The Spirit of truth–the Holy Spirit– is with all believers forever and wherever they are. The Bible also says: “Never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13: 5) As one of his children He may discipline you, but He will never forsake you.

Here in Irving, Texas, God is with us, and we can pray to Him. If we are in an airplane at 30,000 feet, He is with us, and we can pray to Him. If we are 6000 miles from our home God is with us, and we can pray to Him. At all times He knows where we are and what our needs are.

God is not living somewhere far away and inaccessible to his children. He lives with his people and truly wants to be a part of their lives.

We do not serve and worship an idol who is unable to help us. The Bible describes an idol when it says:”… their idols are silver, and gold made by the hands of man. They have mouths but cannot speak; eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear….” (Psalm 115:4-6).

Our Heavenly Father sees us, listens to us and hears us when we cr to him.

We serve and worship the living God as revealed to us in the Bible. So, set your heart today to seek Him and his guidance for your life!

Where is God? He is wherever his children are!

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 103. The whole Psalm is a commentary on the many blessings God has given to his children. Of the many verses in this psalm, I was impressed with one in particular this morning, verse 12.

” As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

My question for you: how far is the east from the west?

Many years ago, I heard a retired airline pilot explain the difference. He began first explaining the difference between N S and E W. He explained that there is one very significant difference. He said when you fly north from Dallas you will reach the North Pole. As you continue over the North Pole, you are now going south.

As you continue to travel south you come to the South Pole and if you continue over the South Pole, now you’re heading north to Dallas.

By contrast, if I set my compass to go east, I will travel east. And as long as I do not change the compass I will continue going east. As long as my compass is set to go east, I will never be going west.

The Bible says, “As far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Is this just an exercise in semantics or is there a difference in north to south – east to west? In God’s economy and by application the answer is “yes.”

North to south Is circular. while east to west Is linear. By circular I mean my past will be repeated, if I do not change course. Linear means the past is behind me and my future is before me.

Once a person receives Jesus by faith as personal Savior, that person is born into God’s family and nothing can change that! The linear path has begun and is permanent! The life of the new Christian is now underway. I believe the Bible teaches very clearly that once a person is in God’s family, by faith in Jesus, that person will never be removed from God’s family. There is no “about face” in God’s economy.

The Bible includes many verses that support this conclusion. Let me note two:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5: 24)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand, I and my father are one.” (John 10:27-29)

As we continue moving into the future with our heavenly Father, are we then free from sin? The answer of course is no; we are free from the eternal penalty of sin, but not the physical consequences of sin. Only one person who has ever lived has been completely free from sin and that was our precious Jesus. When we do sin, and we will, we simply tell God that we have sinned.

“ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“ He that covers his sins shall not prosper: But who so confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28: 13)

So, how far is far? as far as the east is from the west.

The question for you is very simple: in which direction are you going? Your answer determines where you will spend eternity.

How good is good? A young Christian friend shared with me that while she is a committed Christian, her husband, who is not a Christian, is in many ways, a much better person than she.

She said that she often gets angry and sometimes impatient with her children and her husband. He, however, seems always to be in control and is very seldom angry or impatient. She sees him as a much better person than she. Her remark to me was, “He is such a good person, so maybe he doesn’t need God.”

The Bible says , ” The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart ” ( 1 Samuel 16: 7)

Every person needs to know God because every person has a heart problem. That problem is sin, and the most basic sin is to not believe in God and to not accept his gift of eternal life.

Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and: ” He will convict the world of guilt….. in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me….” (John 16: 8, 9)

A person’s a real problem is not anger, impatience, or some other sin. The problem lies in the heart of unbelief.

A very moral, educated and religious man once approached Jesus with the inquiry about knowing God. Jesus told the man; “… you must be born again ” (John 3 :7).

Jesus did not address the man’s outward sins, rather, He went straight to the issue: the heart. The heart must be changed.

This young lady’s husband may be a better person than she, but God looks at the heart, and because she has put her faith in Jesus, she will be welcomed into His presence someday.

My friend should live her life to please God, to pray for her husband, and then to patiently wait for the Holy Spirit to convict him of his unbelief.

So, how good is good? Jesus said: “ No one is good—– except God alone” (John 18 :19).

When the Father looks at the believer, He sees the righteousness of his Son.

When God looks at you —-whom does He see?

This illustration was given to me many years ago and has never diminished in its importance. It is the key to living a fruitful Christian life.
Please do the Following exercise.
Put your hand on a flat surface and look at the five fingers. If for some reason you were required to lose one of these fingers, which would it be? In each illustration you may use a rubber band to disable each finger. We are going to determine the functional value of each finger.

First finger: Disable the little finger, perhaps with a rubber band, and you will do this with each additional finger. This finger appears to be the least important, unless you want to wear a ring. Now pick something up with the other 4 fingers not using that little finger. The hand functions reasonably well with the 4 you have left. Try it, am I right? However, double your hand into a fist and do not use the little finger. I see a much weaker fist without the little finger!
Second finger: When a person marries it is traditional to place a symbol of love and devotion on this second finger. It is normally referred to as the ring finger. Demonstrate now how your hand functions when the ring finger is disable using only the other four fingers. The hand is limited in activities, useful but limited.
Third finger: The middle finger appears to be more of a stabilizer to the other 4 and this is very significant. The hand still functions with the other 4 it, but in a notably limited capacity. Also notice that this finger is the longest of the 5. However, when you make a fist of all 5 fingers, they appear to be of the same length. Why is this significant? They are now working as a unit, and we all know the value of a fist.
Fourth finger: This finger is called the index finger or the pointer. It functions very well with all four of the other fingers. Actually, it may be used more often than the three just mentioned, but without those other three its effectiveness is severely limited, and I emphasize the word severely.
Fifth finger: In my opinion the 5th finger, called the thumb, is not just critical, it is essential in the proper use of the other four fingers. I challenge you, right now, to do any simple exercise with your hand not using your thumb. The other four fingers can barely do anything in concert without the thumb. In reality, however, every finger on the hand depends on the other for success. The successful person will exercise each finger to its fullest capacity.

Now let me explain the significance of each finger in the function of the body of Christ:
The little finger represents “hearing” the Word: ” So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Roman 10: 17). Research Indicates that a person will remember only 5 to 10 % everything read. In its place it is very significant.
The fourth finger represents “reading” the Word: ” Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:3) A person may retain 15 to 25% of what is read.
The third finger speaks to a “study” of God’s word: ” These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) A person may remember 35 to 50% of what is studied.
The 4th finger emphasizes memorizing God’s word which enables us to serve well and to overcome Satan and his temptations: ” How shall young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have a sought thee: Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119: 9 -11) Theoretically, you will remember 100% of what you memorize. As we all know this is in theory only but can be aided by a program of review. Take note also that when Jesus was tempted by Satan, he used only the Word of God in response.
The 5th finger, the thumb, is the most critical member of the hand. It refers to meditating upon God’s word: ” This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1: 8) Notice also in this verse the key phrase ” to do.” Remember the old adage: “To stand outside the door is not to go in.”

Now the application: look at your hand and evaluate each symbolic finger. determine your strengths and shore up the weaknesses. And forge ahead in your pursuit of God.

The new believer is like a newly discovered multifaceted diamond. When the diamond is discovered, it does not resemble that which it will be one day.

When a person becomes a part of God’s family, through personal faith in Jesus, that person is like a rough diamond that must be cleansed, chiseled and polished. This process in Scripture is referred to as the spiritual growth of the new believer.

1 Peter 2: 1-3 describes this process: ” Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking as newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

Be careful and do not misinterpret the reference to babies. These are spiritual babies and not physical. The person beginning a new life in Jesus may be 10 years old or 70 years old.

When beginning the new life In Christ the new believer must be fed with the milk of the word. Milk here refers to those biblical concepts which are most basic to growth, and which may be easily understood and practiced. One does not feed meat to a newborn baby.

If you are a new believer in Jesus there are several things I would suggest that you do.

1) First, and most important, pray and ask your Heavenly Father for help and He will help you.

2) Seek out someone that you know to be a mature Christian and ask for personal help and guidance. Spend time with that person, pick his brain and apply the Scriptures to your life.

3) Find a time each day when you can be alone and read your Bible. If you have questions write them down and share them with that person who is willing to help you.

4) Make every attempt toward consistency in your quiet time with the Lord!

And remember, these are only suggestions from an older man who has been where you are and who wants you to be where God wants you to be!

“My house is full” by Lanny Wolf is a poem that captured my attention many years ago.

There is peace and contentment in the Father’s house today, Lots of food upon his table and no one is turned away. There is singing and laughter as the hours pass by … but a hush calms the singing as the Father sadly cries:

” My house is full, but my field is empty—Who will go and work for Me today? It seems my children all what to stay around my table, but no one wants to work in my field. No one wants to work in my field.”

Push away from the table, look out through the windowpane. Just beyond the house of plenty lies a field of golden grain. And it’s white unto harvest, but the reapers, where are they? In the household, as the children hear the Father sadly say:

” My house is full, but my field is empty— Who will go and work for Me today? It seems my children all want to stay around my table No one wants to work in my field, No one wants to work in my field.”

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “ The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers’ are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9: 37, 38)

You and I have the same commission that Jesus gave to his disciples just before his ascension into heaven:

“… but you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts1:8).

We are told to be witnesses of all that we have received from our Heavenly Father.

And do not overlook the sequence of this commission. These words were spoken by Jesus in Jerusalem.

At this moment, where you live is your “Jerusalem” and you should first work there if you are to move into Judea and Samaria. Keep in mind that we are not speaking here of activity, but rather of productivity, and there is a world of difference. If you are not producing fruit in your “Jerusalem,” why should you expect to produce fruit in Judea or Samaria? Notice also that those in the father’s house were very active, but not in the harvest field.

Just as the disciples were given the responsibility of spreading the good news throughout the then known world, you and I have those same marching orders.

The church of today is replete with hard working, loving, loyal family members. God may want you to be that family member who will step up and volunteer to work in your “Jerusalem” and you will then be prepared for Judea and Samaria. Your Jerusalem may be your neighborhood, your place of employment, your campus or your personal sphere of influence. Just say to the Lord: “Here am I Send me.”

If you feel that God is speaking to you, I encourage you to go to your parents or to your pastor and seek guidance. May you be a future laborer in the harvest field.

And God will bless you as you seek Him and his will for your life.

By definition a gauntlet is a piece of armor worn on the hand or wrist of an ancient warrior. To take the gauntlet off and throw it down at the foot of an adversary is to make a challenge to fight or to accept a challenge to fight.

In Matthew 4:3 our adversary the devil, in effect, threw down the gauntlet before the Lord Jesus when he asked the Lord to do three things: (1) to make bread from stones to satisfy his hunger (2) to perform a miracle to demonstrate his power, and (3) to denounce his loyalty to the Father and to the Father’s plan which was to redeem mankind.

Did Jesus have the power and the authority to do these things? the answer is yes, he did. As we are tested, so Jesus was tested. Jesus passed this test as he did every test. We have failed the test many times and Jesus knows, forgives and loves us still.

Hebrews 4:15 ” We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. “

Notice how Jesus countered this challenge of Satan. He did not argue, and he did not debate. He simply quoted Scripture.

When you are tempted by Satan to do or say something that you know is wrong, how do you respond? Do you argue, rationalize or make excuses? Don’t do any of these things. Satan is deceitful and smarter than you or me. If we argue with Satan, we will have a real problem.

Jesus knew the trap Satan was setting for him and refused to debate the issue. He simply quoted what the Scriptures had to say about each issue. and Satan immediately left him (vs 11). And this is our example to follow.

The word of God is the Christian’s offensive weapon in our spiritual warfare and is very well described in Hebrews 4: 12 which says: ” For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Scripture memory takes time and effort but will pay great dividends, if you persevere. It has been said that there are three keys to successful scripture memory, and they are: Review, Review and Review. Some people can memorize a verse of Scripture in 5 to 10 minutes and quote it word perfectly and yet tomorrow can only remember a few words of the verse. So, focus on the three Rs.

There are excellent programs for scripture memory on the market and I would encourage you to select one and get started. And one more thought, Scripture memory alone will not change your life, (example Satan) but application of memorized Scripture will. James 1: 2 2 is very clear: ” But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. “

Let me encourage you to begin right now by memorizing these verses from Psalm 119: 9- 11

” How shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: 0 let me not wander from thy commandments, Thy word have a hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”

And remember the three letters I mentioned above!

Let me encourage you to throw down the gauntlet and take up the challenge of Scripture memory! You will never regret it!

Florence Chadwick was the first woman to swim across the English Channel both ways. In 1952, she challenged the channel again. Alongside her in a small boat was her mother. After 15 hours in the water, she was exhausted physically and mentally, and the boat was in a dense fog. She told her mother she could not go on and tried to get out of the water. Her mother encouraged her to stay in the water and to continue, but she was exhausted and refused to go on.

She climbed out of the water and got into the boat. Just after getting into the boat the fog began to dissipate and within minutes it lifted completely, and she could see clearly. To her dismay she saw the English shoreline less than one mile away. She knew immediately had she not gotten out of the water she could have finished the race. But once in the boat her race was over.

Now Florence Chadwick had been in this position of discouragement before but had finished every race. She was a great champion, a great swimmer and a great person, but this time she failed, and she knew there was no recourse. There would be no way to reverse the consequences of this decision to give up.

As I read this account of this wonderful woman, I realized immediately the lesson to be learned: “It is always too soon to quit!”

In the Christian life, as in the secular world, when we find ourselves in a desperate situation, we either quit or push on. However, there is a third option to resolve this dilemma and believe it or not It comes from the United States Marine Corps. You won’t find it in any official manual, but it is often practiced in the field. It is called ” An orderly advance to the rear for reorganization and strategy.”

One of these days as a believer, you may find yourself in a similar position financially as did Florence Chadwick physically. You just cannot go on. You are exhausted physically, mentally and financially and you see no light at the end of the tunnel. And you are tempted to just disappear physically, and some men do this.

Years ago, a dear friend of mine did precisely that. He just disappeared with no trace and was never heard of again. Resist this temptation and take heart; you are not alone. This is all too normal in a person’s life. Look to God in prayer, claim the following verse and look for the way of escape. This next verse is “my go-to” verse.

"There has no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. " (1 Corinthians 10:13)

That way of escape may take several forms such as financial, physical, or emotional counseling or an appointment with your pastor. Believe me, there is a way of resolution, and the Lord wants you to find it.

Also, consider these two verses:

Psalm 32:8 " I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." 

Proverbs 3: 5,6 " Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

However, if you choose to solve this dilemma on your own, the first step is to sit down with pencil and paper and think through on the content of the mess and put it all on paper.

The second step is to make decisions based on what you can pay off or what you can throw away, etc.

And finally, the most important step is ” just do it”. Make a list and just do it! And you will smile in satisfaction!

And remember: “It is always too soon to quit!”