Category: The New You

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Friday, March 28, 2014
“God Does Not Dwell in Temples Made with Hands”

 

 

 

 

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Friday, March 28, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered [Paul]. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? (Acts 17:18-19).

The term Areopagus is another word for Mars Hill. Paul was in Athens, Greece and had been preaching to the people in the synagogue and in the agora, that is, the market place. When the philosophers heard him, they invited him to come before what some people call the Council of the Areopagus. They wanted to hear more about the doctrine that Jesus was teaching.

Some historians claim that the Council of the Areopagus was responsible for watching over religion and education there in the city of Athens. They invited Paul to the Areopagus not to put him on trial, but to hear his new doctrine. Acts 17:21 says, “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.”

Paul certainly had something new to share with these people. He gained their interest from the very beginning of his speech when he observed:

Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you (Acts 17:22-23).

This is a very interesting text, and Paul’s speech is extremely profound. Time does not allow us to look at all of the minute details of this event. Perhaps we will return here at some point in the future. For today, I want us to focus on what Paul teaches us about God. Warren Wiersbe makes four great observations in the Bible Exposition Commentary series. I’d like to borrow those for our discussion today.

1. The GREATNESS of God: He is Creator (Acts 17:24). Paul begins with a bold declaration: “God, who made the world and everything in it.” The Epicureans were atheists and believed that all was matter and that matter always was. The Stoics said that everything was God, talking about “the spirit of the Universe.” But Paul boldly affirms that God created everything and that He is a great God! He is not distant from creation, nor is He imprisoned in it. Paul says, “God … does not dwell in temples made with hands.” God is great!

2. The GOODNESS of God: He is Provider (Acts 17:25). Wiersbe states that “in two brief statements, Paul completely wiped out the entire religious system of Greece” (p 473)! First, Paul said that God doesn’t dwell in man-made temples. Second, Paul proclaimed that God is not worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything. God is God, and He is self-sufficient. God doesn’t need man to worship Him, yet God certainly desires a relationship with His created people. So God provides for us. He “gives to all life, breath, and all things.” He is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17; 2 Pet. 1:3). God’s goodness should lead us to repentance and obedience to His will (Rom. 2:4). God is good!

3. The GOVERNMENT of God: He is Ruler (Acts 17:26-29). God cares about us. The Greek gods were distant and uncaring of the problems of men. Why would men create false gods who didn’t care about them? I have no idea. Here’s what Paul says about the God of Heaven and earth: God wants us to “seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). God loves us and He wants a relationship with us! We were made in His image (Gen. 1:26-27), and have been adopted in His family by Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5). “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising (Acts 17:29). God is our ruler!

4. The GRACE of God: He is Savior (Acts 17:30-34). Paul says that there was a time when God overlooked man’s ignorance. His Will was not yet revealed in its entirety. God withheld His divine wrath during this time. But Paul says, “Now [God] commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained [that’s Jesus]. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Titus 3:4 describes the kindness and love that God our Savior showed to fallen man.

Let’s wrap it up: God is a gracious, governing, good, and great God. He cares for you and for me. He wants us to go to heaven! He wants us to serve and to obey Him. This Sunday, we will have an opportunity to worship Him. We don’t offer our worship because He needs it. We offer it to Him because He is worthy. Because He is our God and we are His people.

Memory Verse: Do you have this week’s verse down yet? Let’s review it together.

Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Looking to tomorrow: I have a special Saturday edition of The New You planned for tomorrow. At least, it’s special to me. I hope you’ll join me.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. You can contact me by email at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or by phone at 903-265-4448. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for our Saturday edition of The New You.

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Thursday, March 27, 2014
“Put On the New Man” Part 2

 

 

 

 

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Thursday, March 27, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all (Col. 3:10-11).

If you’re thinking, “I thought he already covered this verse” – you’re right! On Tuesday’s edition of The New You we discussed the change that Jesus brings about in a Christian’s life. Upon our baptism, Jesus cleansed us of our sinful past, and put to death that old man of sin. But if we stop there as Christians, we are stopping short! In addition to purging the old man of sin, the Christian must put on the new man. This new man is characterized by three important concepts. First, there is the new life that is brought about by a deep, personal knowledge of Christ. This is what we discussed on Tuesday. Today, we turn our attention to the final two characteristics of a Christian’s new life.

Here’s number 2: Now that I’m a Christian, Christ is my standard. Notice what he says: “the new man … is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10). Special emphasis should be placed upon those two words “according to.” According to whom? Him who created this new man. That’s Christ! We are renewed according to the image of Christ. Christ is THE standard for all Christians to follow! Peter reminds us that we were called to follow Christ’s steps (1 Pet. 2:21). The new man is growing closer and closer to Jesus so that he may act, talk, and, yes, think like Jesus! Listen to these passages that bear this out for us:

Romans 8:29: For whom [God] foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:49: And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [Jesus].

Philippians 3:21: [Jesus] will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Christ is our standard. Now, remember that Christ was perfect (Heb. 4:15). He committed no sin (1 Pet. 2:22). God knows that we will make mistakes. God’s inspired Word reveals to us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). While God does not expect perfection, He certainly expects faithfulness (Rev. 2:10). When Jesus is the standard of your life, you will be on your way to heaven.

Third, now that I’m a Christian, Christ is my everything. Drop on down to Colossians 3:11 for this point. Paul says that, in Jesus, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” For those in Christ (that is, for Christians, those in Christ’s church), “Christ is all and in all.” In other words, Christ is absolutely everything.

In Christ, racial barriers are broken down. It’s no longer about Greek or Jew. The old song says, “red or yellow, black or white, they are precious in His sight.” That’s true.

In Christ, cultural barriers are broken down. The barbarians were those who did not speak Greek. The Scythians were considered by their culture to be the worst of the barbarians. Their culture claimed that they were little better than savages. Not so in Christ! The ground is level at the foot of the cross!

In Christ, social distinctions are broken down. It’s not longer about slave or free. If they were slaves, they were to be Christian slaves! If they were masters, they were to be Christian masters!

Truly, Christ is in all and He has changed everything! Christ has erased all differences! Life is about Christ. He is the foundation of the new kind of behavior found in those who are renewed by God according to Christ’s name.

Let’s wrap it up: Isn’t it amazing what Christ can do for us and to us? Let’s not short ourselves on the potential that we have with Christ’s power! For sure focus on putting off your sinful self, but then don’t forget to add righteousness in where the unrighteousness used to be.

Memory Verse: Speaking of the power of Christ, we see God’s power to save in the Gospel message! That’s what makes this week’s verse so important.

 Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Sometime today: Read the fascinating sermon Paul gave on Mars Hill in Athens. That’s found in Acts 17:22-34. We’ll discuss that tomorrow.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I need your questions for the future of Q & A Saturday. Do you have a Bible question or thought? Send them to me for this week’s edition of Q & A Saturday! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

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Wednesday, March 26, 2014
“There is One Spirit”

 

 

 

 

Submit Questions for Q & A Saturday!

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• Voicemail: 903-26-LIGHT (903-265-4448)

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Wednesday, March 26, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Eph. 4:4-6).

We have returned to the great pillars of unity to examine the second of this list of seven “ones” – there is one Spirit.

The Spirit is the first member of the Godhead Who is listed in these sevens. The Lord Jesus Christ is listed in verse five, and God the Father is listed in verse six.

The Holy Spirit is an eternal Being, possessing the nature of God just as God the Father and God the Son do. When most people think of God the Spirit, they likely think of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit that were given to our first century brethren. With reference to what the Spirit has done in our salvation, you will also recall Peter’s words in 2 Peter 2:20-21:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

A good study of the work of the Holy Spirit would enrich our lives. Perhaps we under-emphasize the work of the Spirit because there is so much about the Spirit that we do not understand. In Romans 8:26, Paul indicates that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses in prayer. Paul says, “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Shifting back to today’s text, Ephesians 4:4, why would it be important to emphasize that there is but one Spirit? The Bible’s answer is this: the fact that there is one Spirit emphasizes that there is but one divine revelation from God to man.

Let’s briefly address the miraculous deeds that get so much attention. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul discussed these spiritual gifts. He noted that “there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (12:4). After naming the nine miraculous gifts in verses eight through ten, Paul says, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (12:11).

The unity of the Spirit was an important point to be made in the first century because only those who had the power given by the Spirit could work these miracles, or signs. They were indeed signs because they were used to prove the validity of the message that was preached, to confirm that the Word was from God. False teachers would attempt to trick other people, using smoke and mirrors to fake great abilities. But the gifts given by the Holy Spirit could not be faked! Languages were fluently spoken without any prior study, great knowledge was given again without the need for study, those with sicknesses and infirmities were healed! This was amazing! This was power that could not explained by natural causes. Yes, my friends, there is but one Spirit who gave these gifts to our first century brethren.

By the way, those miracles have ceased. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and you’ll see that such would be the case. So do those who claim to have miraculous gifts from the Holy Spirit actually have the Spirit? There’s no way! Why? Because the Spirit Himself revealed that the miraculous would cease when the complete Scripture was revealed.

But let’s go further with this: the unity of the Spirit is an important point to be made TODAY because it confirms the singularity of Scripture. Jesus told His apostles that, when He ascended back to heaven, He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. “He will guide you into all truth,” Jesus explained, “for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). Why is this significant? Because Jesus says that the message of the Holy Spirit would be unified with the message that Jesus Himself had taught. And we know that the message that Jesus taught was the message that God wanted to be proclaimed.

In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul makes a bold statement regarding the words that he wrote. He says that his words are inspired! Listen to him:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual [words] (1 Cor. 2:12-13).

Let’s wrap it up: There is one Spirit. That one Spirit gave those miraculous gifts in the first century, and that same one Spirit revealed the will of God to mankind through human writers. What about modern claims of miracles? No way because the one Spirit said they would cease. What about latter day revelations? There’s no way because the complete will of God has already been revealed in your Bible.

Memory Verse: How’s it coming with this week’s memory verse? Let’s go over it.

 Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Sometime today: Head back to Colossians 3, that great chapter for new Christians, and reread verses ten and eleven. As you do, think about what Paul says about Christ there: “Christ is all and in all.”

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I need your questions for the future of Q & A Saturday. Do you have a Bible question or thought? Send them to me for this week’s edition of Q & A Saturday! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014
“Put On the New Man” (Part 1)

 

 

 

 

Submit Questions for Q & A Saturday!

• Email: robert@thelightnetwork.tv
• Voicemail: 903-26-LIGHT (903-265-4448)

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Tuesday, March 25, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all (Col. 3:10-11).

I think Colossians 3 is an important chapter – especially for new Christians. I like that Paul outlines the new interests that Christians have in verses one through four, then follows that up with how we can act on these new interests in the rest of the chapter. Jesus’ Lordship over my life affects every part of my life. I am new! In the text under our consideration today, Colossians 3:10-11, we are given three important facts about how Jesus has changed our lives.

First, now that I’m a Christian, I have a new life. Paul says that Christians “have put on the new man.” That word “new” is important. It is a fresh life, born again in Jesus Christ (John 3:3, 5). The old man of sin has died, for the old and the new cannot coexist. So our instructions now that we’re Christians are these: “put on the new man.” Note that it is not enough to get rid of the sin in our lives. We must do that, but then follow it up with adding righteousness to our lives.

This new man is “renewed in knowledge” of Christ. “Renewed” means renovated, invigorated. This renewal takes place in your mind (Eph. 4:23-24). Romans 12:2 says that we are to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” God’s Word is teaching us this: who we are is renovated by the knowledge that we have. That’s why Paul says here in Colossians 3:10 that the new man is “renewed in knowledge.” This knowledge is more than intellectual knowledge. This is a deep, personal knowledge of Jesus. Listen to the way Paul puts it over in Philippians 3:10: “that I may know Him [he’s talking about Jesus] and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Here, Paul acknowledges more than just knowing Who Jesus is, doesn’t he? Paul says he wants to know Jesus to the extent that he can suffer with Jesus. He wants to be completely conformed to Jesus’ sacrificial death.

Ok, so pause here for just a minute. Is this what the Lord wants for all of His people or is this just super-zealous Paul being the outstanding apostle that he was? As always, context is key. To whom is he writing? He’s writing to Christians – yes, just like you and me. Am I supposed to want to know Jesus so intimately? Yes, I am. Am I supposed to seek that deep, personal knowledge of Him to the extent that I want to be conformed to His death and to share in His sufferings? Brother or sister, how else can you be renewed? How else can you put on the new man?

Let’s wrap it up: I’m concerned that too many Christians seem to want to stop at baptism. It’s as though they want to put off the old man of sin, but they aren’t willing to put on the new man. This isn’t wise, my brethren. That’s not the new you. Though the sins are purged for a time as Jesus’ blood cleanses that soul, the one who fails to put on the new man is leaving the door wide open for sin to creep back in.

Make no mistake about it: putting on the new man is going to be difficult and challenging. But here’s the thing: most worthwhile things are difficult and challenging. Work hard. Be brave. Stand firm in the faith. Look to Jesus. You can do it with the Lord’s help!

Well that’s all of the time we have for this discussion today. Let’s pick it back up for the other two points on Thursday.

Memory Verse: Let’s turn now to our memory verse. This week we focus on a powerful verse. The power to save mankind lies in the message of the gospel, that is, the good news of Christ. As you and I seek to share that gospel with our friends and neighbors, we do so with the realization that others will not be converted by our smooth speech or by any other ability that we may have. The power is in the gospel.

The gospel saves! Wait: the gospel saves who? Everyone who believes its teaching to the point of obedience. Here’s this week’s verse:

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Sometime today: Tomorrow, let’s return to Ephesians 4:4-6, to the seven pillars of unity. Read that passage sometime today and focus especially on Paul’s statement that there is “one Spirit.” We’ll examine that together tomorrow.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I need your questions for the future of Q & A Saturday. Do you have a Bible question or thought? Send them to me for this week’s edition of Q & A Saturday! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

You are the new you, created in Christ Jesus! Let Him live in you.

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Monday, March 24, 2014
“We Are at War!”

 

 

 

 

Submit Questions for Q & A Saturday!

• Email: robert@thelightnetwork.tv
• Voicemail: 903-26-LIGHT (903-265-4448)

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Monday, March 24, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

We are at war. No, that isn’t a headline from a local newspaper. It’s a statement of Scripture from the New Testament! In 2 Corinthians 10:4, the New Testament mentions “the weapons of our warfare.” The use of that word “warfare” indicates that this isn’t just a skirmish, it is an all-out war campaign!

This is the war of all the ages – the fight between good and evil, right and wrong, heaven and hell – God and Satan. I’m here today to offer this warning: don’t cast this off as a light matter.

Satan is real. Don’t believe it? Just ask Job, or those who were demon possessed in the New Testament times, or Judas, or Ananias and Sapphira. Jesus knows that the devil is real. In Matthew 4, we read of one of the Lord’s encounters with Satan while the Lord was ministering on earth. It is Jesus Who warned Simon Peter regarding Satan:

Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:31-32).

For that matter, why did Jesus come to earth and die on the cross? The Hebrews writer answers that question:

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9).

Why did everyone deserve death in the first place? Because “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). So it was my sin that nailed my Savior to the cross – a cross that I myself deserved to bear.

And there are really people who would minimize the war in which we are engaged as Christians? Listen to Paul’s words about this war:

2 Timothy 2:3: You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 6:12: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

I must fight, and you must fight, too. You know by now that the Christian life isn’t an easy one to live – not in a fallen world that justifies and even glorifies sin. However, even in a culture as depraved as ours is, we can fight and even win this spiritual war!

Let’s wrap it up: You won’t win this war by yourself. Too many well-meaning Christians try to fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons, but it won’t work. Instead, you must “fight the good fight of faith” with the Christian armor (Eph. 6, which we will discuss soon on this program). And you must tap into the greatest power that you can find: Jesus Christ.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

Victory is found in – and only in – Jesus. That’s the entire point of the book of Revelation. For that matter, that’s the point of the entire Bible. Be in Christ by obeying Him. Know Him. Be found in Him when He returns to take us home, and keep your eye focused on the victory that only He provides.

Memory Verse: A new week means a new memory verse! We’ve already memorized Psalm 119:11, 1 Corinthians 15:58, and Jeremiah 10:23. This week, back to the New Testament we go for a very important verse. I’ll say it once to you, and then I’ll ask you to repeat it with me the second time.

Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Sometime today: Head back to Colossians 3 (have you noticed that we’ve been camping there a lot lately?) and read verses ten and eleven. That’s Colossians 3:10-11. As you read, consider what Paul says regarding the new man.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I need your questions for the future of Q & A Saturday. Do you have a Bible question or thought? Send them to me for this week’s edition of Q & A Saturday! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

Until then, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). But here’s the good news: “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). You and I are fighting this battle together! Meet me back here tomorrow as we strengthen our faith and encourage each other.

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Saturday, March 22, 2014
“Q & A Saturday”

 

 

 

 

Find a place to worship this Lord’s day.

Submit Questions for Q & A Saturday!

• Email: robert@thelightnetwork.tv
• Voicemail: 903-26-LIGHT (903-265-4448)

Previous Episodes

• Click here to see all of the episodes of The New You.

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Saturday, March 22, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

The Q & A Saturday edition of The New You seems to be something you enjoy. I hope you do! I could really use your questions for next Saturday. If you have a question or comment – anything you’d like to add in to the show – I’d love to hear it! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or, better yet, give me a call and let’s hear your voice right here! My voicemail line is 903-265-4448.

Here are this week’s questions.

Question #1: “What makes a bad word bad?” [Thursday’s episode]

The sentiments behind our words are just as important as the words themselves. In fact, the sentiments behind our words may be even more important than the words themselves.

Eph. 4:29-32; Col. 4:5-6

Question #2: “I’ve heard people say that the New Testament and the church was God’s ‘Plan B’ when the Old Testament didn’t work. Is this true? How do I answer this claim?” [Wednesday’s episode]

Isaiah 2:2-3; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2:28-32; Zechariah 1:16; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 2

Memory Verse: On Saturdays we like to see how well we’ve done with the week’s memory verse. Here’s what I’m going to do: I’ll say the verse but with blanks. As I say it, you say it with me and see if you can fill in the blanks. We’ll review the answers at the end. Here goes!

Jeremiah 10:__: “O LORD, I know the _____ of man is not in __________;

It is not in ______ who walks to ________ his own _______.”

Jeremiah 10:23: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself;

It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

Great job! Let’s add that one to the verses that we’ve memorized together. This is a growing list which currently contains Psalm 119:11, 1 Corinthians 15:58, and Jeremiah 10:23. We’ll begin to add another verse to this list on Monday, the Lord willing.

Over the weekend: Tomorrow is the first day of the week! That’s the day that the first century disciples gathered to worship (Acts 20:7). Modern followers of Christ will do the same. Do you have a place to worship tomorrow? If not, check out our show notes over at thelightnetwork.tv for an interactive map of congregations. (http://www.searchtv.org/mapchurch.html). Search for your area and I’m sure you’ll find a nearby congregation with which to worship.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. You can contact me by email at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or by phone at 903-265-4448. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I’ll meet you on Monday as we begin another week together right here on The New You!

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Friday, March 21, 2014
“Expressing Our Worship”

 

 

 

 

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Friday, March 21, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

Worship is honor paid to Deity (bowing before God) expressed through purposed, intentional avenues detailed in the New Testament. We dedicate Fridays here on The New You to discuss worship because it is an important part of the Christian’s life. Jesus said that God, the Father, is seeking worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Here, we find three important components to biblical worship: the right Object, God; the right attitude, in spirit; and the right actions, in truth.

The New Testament details five avenues through which we express our worship to God. Some people refer to them as “acts of worship.” Whatever you call them, this is the way that we manifest worship. I want us to briefly go through each one now. As we do, I want you to notice that God has given us detailed instructions pertaining to each action of worship. These are in no particular order:

1. Singing. The first century church sang to God as they worshipped Him. I reference the New Testament church because the New Testament is our pattern for how to acceptably serve God. This singing was from the heart and used only their voices (Col. 3:16). They sang to “one another” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), indicating that they all participated in the singing.

2. The Lord’s Supper. They partook of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7). Unleavened bread was used to represent Jesus’ broken body, and the fruit of the vine was used to represent Jesus’ shed blood. These emblems were set forth by Jesus Himself in Matthew 26:26-28.

3. Prayer. The church prayed when they came together. Prayer is communication between a child of God and his or her heavenly Father (Mat. 6:9). They prayed for God’s Will to be done (Mat. 6:10; 1 John 5:14). They prayed in faith (James 1:6).

4. Monetary Giving. The church gave each Lord’s day (1 Cor. 16:2) to support the Lord’s work. They did so cheerfully, and in accordance with what God had blessed them with (2 Cor. 9:7). We have no command today regarding the amount that we are to give. In other words, the tithe of the Old Testament isn’t something that is commanded in the New Testament. This is the command regarding the amount of our giving: “let each one give as he purposes in his heart” (2 Cor. 9:7), and “each according to his ability” (Acts 11:29).

5. Teaching, or Preaching, the Word. Acts 20 records Paul preaching during a first century worship service (Acts 20:7). The content of our preaching is to be, of course, God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:2). The men did the teaching (1 Tim. 2:12). They were to be faithful men (2 Tim. 2:2).

So there was singing, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, praying, giving, and teaching. Obviously, much more could be said regarding each of these actions of worship. Lord willing, we will examine each of these with more detail in future broadcasts of The New You.

Let’s wrap it up: God is worthy of our worship. He is our Creator and the One who sustains our lives. As we must seek to please Him in all the we do, we certainly must be sure that our worship is in accordance with His will. He expects worshippers to have the right attitude as they approach Him to worship. Also, He expects worshippers to worship in the right way. Jesus spoke of vain worship, which followed the commands of men (Mat. 15:7-9). Paul warned against will worship (Col. 2:23). The people of Athens ignorantly worshipped their false gods (Acts 17:22-23). Let us take worship seriously, and come to worship prepared to give God our very best. Let’s come prepared to focus for the full period of worship. Let’s discipline ourselves to improve on the worship that we give to our deserving Father.

Memory Verse: We’ve been quoting from Jeremiah all week long. I bet you have this verse down by now. Say it with me:

Jeremiah 10:23: O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. You can contact me by email at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or by phone at 903-265-4448. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for our Q & A Saturday edition of The New You.

Today, think about the God in heaven Who loves you, and remember that you are always in view of His watchful eye. He cares for you.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014
“Put Off the Old Man” Part 2

 

 

 

 

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• Email: robert@thelightnetwork.tv
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Episode Transcript:

It’s Thursday, March 20, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth (Col. 3:8).

Are you wearing your steel-toed boots? If not, you might ought to grab them real quick. I don’t think there’s any topic that steps on toes as much as the topic of speech and how we use our tongues. You know the old adage that says: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Honestly, there’s just not a lot of truth to that. We’ve all experienced the pain of hurtful words. I know that I have also been guilty of using my words to hurt others.

On Tuesday, we looked at Colossians 3:5 where Paul listed five sexually oriented sins. We noted that sin can hurt in two ways: subjectively and objectively, and we looked specifically at the subjective, that is, personal hurt that sin can bring to our souls. Today, though, we shift to the objective pain of sin as we discuss the way our words can harm other people. Interestingly, just as Paul listed five sins in verse five, he lists five sins in verse eight. Each of these are sins of attitude and speech.

First, Paul says that we are to put off anger. There is a type of anger that is not sinful. Eph. 4:26 says “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” But there is also a type of anger that is sinful. It is to that sinful type of anger that Paul here refers. This is the outbursting of passion and temper that springs from personal resentment and provocation. Paul says to put that off, to remove it from oneself as quickly as possible.

Next, there’s the word wrath. Admittedly, wrath and anger have very close meanings. Wrath is anger built up and turned into a vengeful rage. Have you ever seen someone this angry? It truly is not a pretty sight. Few wise decisions are made in bursts of anger and wrath. These attitudes are certainly not Christ like.

Third, the new man must put off malice. This is evil intention against one who has made me angry. Some suggest that malice is the worst of all the sins listed here because it is rooted and deliberate, anger heightened and settled. Malice is that rotten attitude that drives us to seek revenge through evil thoughts, evil words, or even evil actions. May these things be far from God’s people.

Fourth in the list is blasphemy. While we generally think of blasphemy being something that is against God, the term is broader than that. It actually refers to speech directed against the good character of another. The New Testament describes blasphemy against God Himself, against the name of God, against God’s Word, and against our fellow man.

Note the progression portrayed in these terms. It begins with anger, escalates to wrath, then malice, then blasphemy. Anger takes root inside of the human heart and hardens it to other people’s feelings. Matured anger causes us to feel entitled and to look out only for ourselves instead of the interests of others. We lash out with our speech and our actions against other people and, in so doing, we bring shame to the Lord Whose name we wear.

Finally, Paul lists “filthy language out of your mouth.” Lightfoot describes this as fowl-mouthed abuse. He’s right. There’s no place in the Christian’s vocabulary for words that tear down and abuse.

Let’s wrap it up: You have to watch your tongue. It’s in a wet place and is liable to slip. God is concerned with how we treat others, and the verse we have examined today illustrates that sin not only harms the sinner; it can – and does – also hurt those around us. Let’s guard our hearts from unChristian attitudes and words as we seek to live like the new you daily.

Memory Verse: If we’ll follow the instructions of this week’s memory verse, then we will control our attitudes and our speech.

Jeremiah 10:23: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

Sometime today: Read once again from John 4:23-24 and think about what Jesus means by saying we must worship God “in truth.” That’s tomorrow’s topic for The New You. How’s THAT for a tease?!

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

Your questions for Q & A Saturday are always welcome! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

I leave you today with a simple verse, Ephesians 4:29, which says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” I’ll meet you here tomorrow!

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
“There is One Body”

 

 

 

 

Submit Questions for Q & A Saturday!

• Email: robert@thelightnetwork.tv
• Voicemail: 903-26-LIGHT (903-265-4448)

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Wednesday, March 19, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Eph. 4:3-6).

There are seven “ones” listed in Ephesians 4:4-6. This list is sometimes referred to as the seven pillars of Christian unity. It’s an important study.

First, I want to direct your attention to the very first word that I just read to you, the top of verse three: “endeavoring.” That is a very important word. The ESV translates it “eager.” The meaning of the Greek word involves one who is “bent on” something, that is, one who is determined to do something and they won’t take no for an answer. It is in that way that Christians are to seek unity.

But upon what grounds will this unity be attained? The kind of unity we’re interested in is biblical unity. It’s not just about a group of people getting together and agreeing on a set of principles; it’s about all people seeking unity upon the foundation of God’s Word. That’s biblical unity. Listen to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:10:

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Let’s quickly review that verse: no divisions, perfectly joined together, same mind, same judgment. The only way this is possible is if we are united in the Word of God.

Returning to Ephesians 4, seven ones are given to serve as a nice basis for New Testament unity. We will find time to discuss each of these seven ones in future episodes of The New You, but today I want to specifically focus on the first of the seven pillars of unity: “there is one body.”

Exactly what is meant by the word “body” in Ephesians 4:4? We don’t have to look too far to find the meaning. In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul makes an interesting statement:

And He [God] put all things under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him [Jesus] to be head over all things to the church, which is His [Jesus’] body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Pay special attention to those prepositional phrases: “to the church which is His body.” So, let’s answer our question: what is meant by the word “body” in Ephesians 4:4? Paul already established in this Ephesian epistle that the body of Christ is Christ’s church. The terms are used here interchangeably. Let’s substitute the synonyms in Ephesians 4:4. What does Paul say? He says there is one church.

This is certainly not the only passage that teaches the oneness of the Lord’s church. Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 teach that there are many members, but only one body of Christ. Ephesians 2 teaches that both Jews and Gentiles who obey the gospel are placed into the same body. Paul says, “so as to create in Himself [that’s Jesus] one new man from the two, thus making peace” (Eph. 2:15).

Of further interest to this discussion is the fact that Jesus promised to build one church. Matthew 16:18 records the Lord’s words: “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Note the singularity of the word. By the way, Whose church is it? It’s Christ’s. It thus belongs to Him.

It is an interesting study to walk through the Bible – both Old and New Testaments – and to see the singularity of the Lord’s church from one cover to the other. From prophecy to promise to establishment, the Lord’s church is one. There is one body.

Let’s wrap it up: According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are approximately 41,000 Christian denominations and organizations in the world. This is not Christian unity. This is not what the Lord’s church looks like. How can I make such a bold statement? Because the Bible shows us exactly what the Lord’s church should look like today. That’s what I want to be. That’s part of being the new you.

Tonight, it’s likely that you’ll have the opportunity to assemble with the congregation of the one body that meets in your area. Don’t miss that opportunity.

Memory Verse: How are you doing with this week’s memory verse? I’ll say it once, then you repeat it with me the second time.

Jeremiah 10:23: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Repeat once)

Sometime today: Return to Colossians three and read verses eight and nine. What type of sin is being discussed in these two verses? We’ll see that and be challenged toward faithfulness by it tomorrow, the Lord willing.

OUTRO:

Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

Your questions for Q & A Saturday are always welcome! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

Today, seek to maintain and defend true, biblical unity, and remember that you are a member of the Lord’s body.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2014
“Put Off the Old Man” Part 1

 

 

 

 

Submit Questions for Q & A Saturday!

• Email: robert@thelightnetwork.tv
• Voicemail: 903-26-LIGHT (903-265-4448)

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• Click here to see all of the episodes of The New You.

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Episode Transcript:

It’s Tuesday, March 18, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Col. 3:5).

Do you ever wish you could do an X-ray of your soul? I do. If we could see the effects of sin on our souls like we can see the effects of illness on our bodies, I think we would be much more motivated to obey God. The thing is: God’s Word tells us exactly what sin does to our souls. It describes sin as a stain on our souls, like scarlet (Isa. 1:18). It says that sinful teaching spreads like cancer (2 Tim. 2:17).

Christ has freed us from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:6-7)! Our job as Christians is to remain free from that bondage. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).

Sin hurts in two ways: subjectively and objectively. In Colossians 3, Paul discusses at length the need to put off the old man, that is the you that you used to be (the you before Christ), and to put on the new man (the new you created in Christ). In Colossians 3:5, our text for today, the Bible shows us that sin can hurt us personally, that is the subjective hurt of sin. In Colossians 3:8, where we will study Thursday, the Lord willing, Paul illustrates how sin hurts objectively, that is, how sin hurts other people.

Turning our attention to Colossians 3:5, notice the first part of Paul’s exhortation here: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth.” Anytime we see the word “therefore,” we look to see what it is there for. In light of the fact that Christ is our life (Col. 3:4), that we’ve been raised with Christ (Col. 3:1), and that our interests are now spiritual rather than carnal (Col. 3:2), we are to put to death our earthly members. The words “put to death” come from one Greek word which means to utterly and pitilessly slay. Paul is calling them to action to rid the sin from their lives. They’ve been cleansed by Jesus’ blood, but they must remain pure in their actions and thoughts.

Utterly and pitilessly slay your members which are on the earth. The word “members” refers to limbs, or parts of the body. The idea here is that they are to put to death any agents through which these sinful attitudes or actions are expressed. I like the way the ESV translates this verse. It says, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” We discussed last week how that Christians are not to “love the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15).

The interesting part about Colossians 3:5 is that Paul illustrates how sin causes subjective, that is personal, harm to our spiritual selves. He shows us this by listing five sins in verse five. Interestingly, all of these are sexually oriented. He lists fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness.

Fornication refers to any sexual activity that is committed outside of the marriage bond. Uncleanness simply means impurity. The word fornication is specific, and the word uncleanness is a bit more broad. Next, Paul lists passion. The King James Version translates this “inordinate affection,” which I believe describes the meaning of the word very well. Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with being passionate about a particular cause or thing, so long as that cause or thing is right in God’s sight. Clearly, in this context, the passion is refer to affections that are inordinate, that is, disorderly, unrestrained feelings or behavior. Evil desire is mentioned fourth in the list. The word means to come upon with fierceness or wrath. RCH Lenski says that it is “reaching out for an object in order to satisfy self.” Finally, Paul mentions covetousness, which is idolatry. The Ten Commandments in the Old Law stated: “you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” (Exo. 20:17).

Let’s wrap it up: To participate in these sinful acts is to bring the wrath of God upon ourselves (Col. 3:6). Note that these Colossians had once lived this way (Col. 3:7). But this earthly, sensual lifestyle was incongruous with the Christian life. The new you must put off these things and put on Christ.

Memory Verse: We all need to meditate on Jeremiah’s words in this week’s memory verse. When I direct my steps, I just get myself deeper into sin and farther from my Father who loves me. Instead, I need to let Him be the Potter and realize that I am the clay. Here’s this week’s memory verse:

Jeremiah 10:23: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Repeat once)

Sometime today: Turn to Ephesians four and read verses three through six about unity. As you do, answer this question: what is the one body? We’ll look at that tomorrow.

OUTRO:
Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.

Your questions for Q & A Saturday are always welcome! Email me at robert@thelightnetwork.tv or ask your question by phone via my Google voicemail number, which is 903-265-4448.

I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.

I leave you today with the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:20: “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”