Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 53-- Is the World Suffering from Selective Hearing?

If you are a parent it probably has happened to you. You tell your child to do something and he or she ignores you. You say it louder and are still met with silence and inaction. Finally, you scream to them before storming into their room.

Once there, you are met with an "I didn't hear you."

Now sometimes that "I didn't hear you" is because the TV was too loud or the iPod was cranked up in their ears. Sometimes it is "selective" hearing--they hear what they want to hear, and it usually isn't you!

There are many people like that when it comes to God. They either are so self-absorbed that they don't notice God, they are so distracted that they can't hear or see Him working around them, or they have selective hearing and choose to ignore Him.

They also often live and operate in fear when there is no cause for fear (v5). This is most evident with those who do what we may consider irrational superstitions.

Some cultures, for example, believe that you have to "swing" away your sin. Each Spring the adults go to a playground-like setting. They stand on a swing, making it go back and forth, in fear that if they don't they will face God's wrath. They will put on their best clothes--guys in suits, women in nice dresses--and swing away!

In Psalm 53 David paints a picture of these outsiders. He uses words similar to those in Psalm 14 to reiterate the sinful and fallen nature of man. "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God'"(v1).

Some scholars say that Hebrew words for "there is no God" is not a denial of the existence of God, but rather a denial of the providence of the Deity. In other words, whether God really exists or not doesn't matter because the person denies God's right to control, direct or intervene in his or her life. They live for themselves with no thought of God. "There is none who does good, not even one" (v3). They are going their own way and without God's grace will continue to drift through life and eternity separated from the Almighty.

While it is easy for believers to sit back and say "I'm glad I'm not like them," God would have us respond differently. He longs to have a personal relationship with everyone.

How do you break through and reach a person like that? Romans 10:13-15 says "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" It goes on to say, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

It is up to us to lovingly enter into the "noise" of their "room" and share God's word. Not screaming like the frustrated parent, but as a loving friend who, like them, was once lost in life but now desires to show them the way forward.

Will you be that friend and help the world with its selective hearing problem?

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 44-- Abandoned by God?

Have you ever felt all alone? I mean really alone--like God wasn't even there?

You knew you were God's child. You knew you had a solid faith in Him. You knew you were living right before Him. Yet, somehow it seemed that He had forsaken you?

The psalmist who penned Psalm 44 felt exactly that way. He celebrated the things that God had done (vv1-3). He declared his complete allegiance to the Lord (vv4-7). He gave praise the the Lord (v8). But even with all of this, he felt rejected and crushed by God (vv9,19) and he felt that God was hiding from him (v24).

Sound familiar?

We cannot read this Psalm without also reading Romans 8:35-39, the passage where Paul quotes from Psalm 44. After giving a lengthy list of things that seemingly could separate us from God, Paul declares that we are more than super-conquerors through Christ. There is nothing--absolutely nothing--that can disconnect us from God's love.

"That's great," you say, "but it doesn't change how I feel right now." True.

So what can we do in those times when for no fault of our own we feel isolated from God?

Start by crying out to God, like the psalmist did in verse 26: "Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love." Go back to what you know about God--His promises, His love, His past workings in your life. Use the time to evaluate your walk with the Lord and intensify your focus on Him. Increase your prayer, worship and Bible reading times. Memorize scripture. Meditate on Christian songs.

Draw near to Him and He promises to draw near to you.

This "desert" time in your life actually may be a season that God wants to use to take your relationship with Him to a new level. Embrace it!

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 42-- Lessons from My Time in a Ford Pinto

I have vivid childhood memories of hot California summers riding in the back of my mother's Ford Pinto station wagon--the one with no air conditioning--and wishing more than anything to have something to drink.

To a young child, the few minutes drive in the heat seemed like an eternity. My thoughts were consumed with Kool-Aid, Coke, juice--anything to quench the thirst.

In Psalm 42 the psalmist describes a similar scene--no, not a young boy in the back of a Pinto--but a deer desperate to find a stream of cool, refreshing water. Likewise, the psalmist says, his soul desperately thirsts for God. His thoughts were consumed with meeting with God.

Just like the thought of a cold Coca Cola to a young Pinto-bound boy, or a cool stream to a weary deer, God was all this writer could think about.

What happens when we have that kind of fixation on the Lord? What happens when we reach the level where everything within us longs to be in the presence of God through His word, worship and prayer?

When that happens, it gives us an unusual ability to thrive in life.

Our tears of sorrow turn to joy (vv3-4).

When our innermost being is downcast, it gives us hope (vv 5,11).

When people tease us, look down on us, or even persecute us for our faith, it gives us strength (vv9-10). "Why so downcast?" the psalmists asks, "put your hope in God."

How thirsty are you for God today? How consumed are you with spending time in His presence? Maybe if we would be a little more consumed with God we would be a little less consumed by the pressures of life.

When is your next meeting with God?

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 32--A Saint in Sin

For many years "Jill" ran from the Lord. She had grown up in a preacher's home and made a commitment to Christ but in her later teen years she began to stray. Caught up with the wrong crowd, Jill began to make terrible choices. Her life, it seemed, was spiraling out of control. Her parents continued to pray for her...and love her. They made it clear that the way she was living was wrong. But they also made it clear that when the day came that she realized she was on a sinking ship they would be there in the life boat rowing beside her. Although she acted tough on the outside, inside Jill was in turmoil. In her heart of hearts she knew she was throwing her life away. The weight of her poor choices began to bear down on her. She actually felt a physical heaviness...like she couldn't breath. Then like the prodigal son in Jesus' story, she finally came to her senses and returned home. She got rid of everything in her life that remotely resembled the life that she had been living--even her cell phone and apartment furniture. Today, she is a shining example of a godly young woman who seeks to glorify God in all that she does. I'm sure that Jill could relate to David when he wrote in Psalm 32 "When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer" (vv3-4). What turned things around for both Jill and David? "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (v5). Sin separates us from God. For the believer, sin separates us from fellowship with God and from His hand of protection on our life. However, when we do what Jill and David did and repent, then we are able to say to the Lord "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance" (v7). They experienced the blessings that come when our "transgressions are forgiven" and our sins are covered (v1). What about you today? Is there sin hindering your fellowship? Maybe you like David and Jill need to stop covering it up and seek His forgiveness.

 

_________________________  

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 23--The Psalm You Thought You Knew

It is arguably the most well known passage in the entire Bible. Even many non-believers have heard of it. Countless numbers of people have turned to it for encouragement and strength in difficult times. You have probably read Psalm 23 many, many times. You may not, however, have read it in the way that truly unleashes its full power and meaning. Most of us read this beloved psalm with an emphasis on the words "me" and "my." The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside still waters. Though I walk through the valley, and so on. We make the emphasis of the psalm about us. It certainly does relate to us--but that is not where the power and real meaning is at. If you want to fully appreciate and really grasp what this psalm is all about, then you must read it with the emphasis on the Lord. He makes me lie down...He leads beside...He restores...You are with me...Your rod...You prepare...You anoint. Why does God do all of these things for us? Is it because we are so wonderful, great and deserving? No. It is "For His name's sake" (v3). It is not about us. It is about Him--and that's a good thing! You see, if it was about you then what happens when you blow it? What happens when you don't live up to your God-given potential? What happens when your faith falters? God's ability to be your good shepherd is all about His nature and character, not yours. Do you really want the power and comfort of this psalm? Then don't focus on what you get; rather, focus on who God is and what He can and is doing in your life for His name's sake.

_________________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 65--Escape to the Comfy Room

My wife and I love to entertain folks at our home and regularly have people over. Our living room is nice but on the formal side, and it's where we will greet guests or visit if the guests aren't staying long.

The living room is pleasant but no where near as comfortable as an upstairs room we call the media room. The dark carpeting and richly-painted walls set a nice ambiance. The sofas are extremely comfortable, and every seat reclines. This is where we really like to entertain--especially during football season.

Kick off your shoes, fill a plate with some chips, grab a can of soft-drink--and cheer on the Dallas Cowboys! This room is a warm, comfortable and inviting place. It's also where we like to hang-out as a family even when we don't have guests. You feel at ease there. It's relaxing.

This picture is what I see when I read Psalm 65. The psalmist wrote, "Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house..." (v4). Another translation says "We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house."

I picture God inviting me into His house and taking me to His "comfy room"--an incredibly warm and relaxing room where He gives me the opportunity to hang-out with Him. I settle into the comfy chair, kick-back, and listen. I'm at ease. This time, however, there's no ballgame to watch. No, there is something much better. The opportunity to spend time in the presence of the Creator.

What do I say? What do I hear? What is the conversation about?

It's about how God hears prayer (v2). It is about His incredible grace that forgave us when we were overwhelmed with sin (v3).

It is a time to reflect on His "awesome deeds" (v5) and celebrate His creative genius and strength (vv6-7). It's a time to pause and consider how He cares for this earth (v9), bringing water and grain to provide for the needs of those who dwell here (vv9-11). It's a time to reflect on the beauty of His creation (vv12-13).

Do you daily enter into that "comfy room" with the Lord? Not necessarily a physical room with reclining chairs, but entering into God's presence where you spend time worshiping Him and listening to what He has to say? Do you crawl up next to Him and simply look on in awe of who He is? Do you pull away from the busyness of life to experience His refreshing? Are you allowing Him to fill you with the good things that come from hanging-out with Him?

Today, you may feel like you are running on empty. You may feel like you are being pulled in every direction. You no sooner got out of bed today than you were ready to head back. Maybe you are discouraged or disappointed. Let me suggest that you head to the comfy room. Spend some time with the Lord reading His word, worshiping Him, praying to Him, listening to Him.

You might be surprised how rested, calm and encouraged you are the rest of the day.

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 53-- Is the World Suffering from Selective Hearing?

If you are a parent it probably has happened to you. You tell your child to do something and he or she ignores you. You say it louder and are still met with silence and inaction. Finally, you scream to them before storming into their room.

Once there, you are met with an "I didn't hear you."

Now sometimes that "I didn't hear you" is because the TV was too loud or the iPod was cranked up in their ears. Sometimes it is "selective" hearing--they hear what they want to hear, and it usually isn't you!

There are many people like that when it comes to God. They either are so self-absorbed that they don't notice God, they are so distracted that they can't hear or see Him working around them, or they have selective hearing and choose to ignore Him.

They also often live and operate in fear when there is no cause for fear (v5). This is most evident with those who do what we may consider irrational superstitions.

Some cultures, for example, believe that you have to "swing" away your sin. Each Spring the adults go to a playground-like setting. They stand on a swing, making it go back and forth, in fear that if they don't they will face God's wrath. They will put on their best clothes--guys in suits, women in nice dresses--and swing away!

In Psalm 53 David paints a picture of these outsiders. He uses words similar to those in Psalm 14 to reiterate the sinful and fallen nature of man. "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God'"(v1).

Some scholars say that Hebrew words for "there is no God" is not a denial of the existence of God, but rather a denial of the providence of the Deity. In other words, whether God really exists or not doesn't matter because the person denies God's right to control, direct or intervene in his or her life. They live for themselves with no thought of God. "There is none who does good, not even one" (v3). They are going their own way and without God's grace will continue to drift through life and eternity separated from the Almighty.

While it is easy for believers to sit back and say "I'm glad I'm not like them," God would have us respond differently. He longs to have a personal relationship with everyone.

How do you break through and reach a person like that? Romans 10:13-15 says "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" It goes on to say, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

It is up to us to lovingly enter into the "noise" of their "room" and share God's word. Not screaming like the frustrated parent, but as a loving friend who, like them, was once lost in life but now desires to show them the way forward.

Will you be that friend and help the world with its selective hearing problem?

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 44-- Abandoned by God?

Have you ever felt all alone? I mean really alone--like God wasn't even there?

You knew you were God's child. You knew you had a solid faith in Him. You knew you were living right before Him. Yet, somehow it seemed that He had forsaken you?

The psalmist who penned Psalm 44 felt exactly that way. He celebrated the things that God had done (vv1-3). He declared his complete allegiance to the Lord (vv4-7). He gave praise the the Lord (v8). But even with all of this, he felt rejected and crushed by God (vv9,19) and he felt that God was hiding from him (v24).

Sound familiar?

We cannot read this Psalm without also reading Romans 8:35-39, the passage where Paul quotes from Psalm 44. After giving a lengthy list of things that seemingly could separate us from God, Paul declares that we are more than super-conquerors through Christ. There is nothing--absolutely nothing--that can disconnect us from God's love.

"That's great," you say, "but it doesn't change how I feel right now." True.

So what can we do in those times when for no fault of our own we feel isolated from God?

Start by crying out to God, like the psalmist did in verse 26: "Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love." Go back to what you know about God--His promises, His love, His past workings in your life. Use the time to evaluate your walk with the Lord and intensify your focus on Him. Increase your prayer, worship and Bible reading times. Memorize scripture. Meditate on Christian songs.

Draw near to Him and He promises to draw near to you.

This "desert" time in your life actually may be a season that God wants to use to take your relationship with Him to a new level. Embrace it!

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 42-- Lessons from My Time in a Ford Pinto

I have vivid childhood memories of hot California summers riding in the back of my mother's Ford Pinto station wagon--the one with no air conditioning--and wishing more than anything to have something to drink.

To a young child, the few minutes drive in the heat seemed like an eternity. My thoughts were consumed with Kool-Aid, Coke, juice--anything to quench the thirst.

In Psalm 42 the psalmist describes a similar scene--no, not a young boy in the back of a Pinto--but a deer desperate to find a stream of cool, refreshing water. Likewise, the psalmist says, his soul desperately thirsts for God. His thoughts were consumed with meeting with God.

Just like the thought of a cold Coca Cola to a young Pinto-bound boy, or a cool stream to a weary deer, God was all this writer could think about.

What happens when we have that kind of fixation on the Lord? What happens when we reach the level where everything within us longs to be in the presence of God through His word, worship and prayer?

When that happens, it gives us an unusual ability to thrive in life.

Our tears of sorrow turn to joy (vv3-4).

When our innermost being is downcast, it gives us hope (vv 5,11).

When people tease us, look down on us, or even persecute us for our faith, it gives us strength (vv9-10). "Why so downcast?" the psalmists asks, "put your hope in God."

How thirsty are you for God today? How consumed are you with spending time in His presence? Maybe if we would be a little more consumed with God we would be a little less consumed by the pressures of life.

When is your next meeting with God?

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Keeping Your Pants Up and Groupies4God

Recently I was leading a discipleship group and we were discussing the armor of God in Ephesians 6. There were two particular parts of the armor that generated a lot of discussion--the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

We were reminded that the belt does several things--not the least of which is holding your pants up! One of the group members commented how in BIble times people would tuck the end of their robe into their belt so that they could move freely and quickly--such as when going to war.

Truth keeps everything together and allows us to successfully navigate life.

The question was raised "How do you get truth?" Well, we know Jesus is Truth (John 14:6) and God's Word is true.

That led us to the sword of the Spirit.

Another participant commented how if we don't know God's Word, then we have nothing that the Spirit can use in our lives. With both truth and the sword it is clear--we need to know God's Word. We need to read it, study it, meditate on it, and memorize it.

Okay, we know all that--but it's especially hard to memorize.

Well, let me introduce you to Groupies4God.

This is a group of people who recently started meeting on Facebook to learn verses together. Each Monday a new verse(s) is posted on the site Groupies4God.com and the group commits together to learn that verse over the coming week. As a way of accountability, if you are a Facebook member, you can indicate to everyone once you learn the verse. Facebook, of course, is free to join. If you don't want to join that's fine--you can still see the verse of the week. It's just nice to be part of a group that is committed to helping each other learn God's Word.

So, let's "keep our pants up" and take up the "sword" by learning the Bible. Let's start a movement to hide God's Word in our hearts. Gather some friends and commit together to weekly Bible memorization. 

Join us at Groupies4God.

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 32--A Saint in Sin

For many years "Jill" ran from the Lord. She had grown up in a preacher's home and made a commitment to Christ but in her later teen years she began to stray. Caught up with the wrong crowd, Jill began to make terrible choices. Her life, it seemed, was spiraling out of control. Her parents continued to pray for her...and love her. They made it clear that the way she was living was wrong. But they also made it clear that when the day came that she realized she was on a sinking ship they would be there in the life boat rowing beside her. Although she acted tough on the outside, inside Jill was in turmoil. In her heart of hearts she knew she was throwing her life away. The weight of her poor choices began to bear down on her. She actually felt a physical heaviness...like she couldn't breath. Then like the prodigal son in Jesus' story, she finally came to her senses and returned home. She got rid of everything in her life that remotely resembled the life that she had been living--even her cell phone and apartment furniture. Today, she is a shining example of a godly young woman who seeks to glorify God in all that she does. I'm sure that Jill could relate to David when he wrote in Psalm 32 "When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer" (vv3-4). What turned things around for both Jill and David? "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (v5). Sin separates us from God. For the believer, sin separates us from fellowship with God and from His hand of protection on our life. However, when we do what Jill and David did and repent, then we are able to say to the Lord "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance" (v7). They experienced the blessings that come when our "transgressions are forgiven" and our sins are covered (v1). What about you today? Is there sin hindering your fellowship? Maybe you like David and Jill need to stop covering it up and seek His forgiveness.

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 23--The Psalm You Thought You Knew

It is arguably the most well known passage in the entire Bible. Even many non-believers have heard of it. Countless numbers of people have turned to it for encouragement and strength in difficult times. You have probably read Psalm 23 many, many times. You may not, however, have read it in the way that truly unleashes its full power and meaning. Most of us read this beloved psalm with an emphasis on the words "me" and "my." The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside still waters. Though I walk through the valley, and so on. We make the emphasis of the psalm about us. It certainly does relate to us--but that is not where the power and real meaning is at. If you want to fully appreciate and really grasp what this psalm is all about, then you must read it with the emphasis on the Lord. He makes me lie down...He leads beside...He restores...You are with me...Your rod...You prepare...You anoint. Why does God do all of these things for us? Is it because we are so wonderful, great and deserving? No. It is "For His name's sake" (v3). It is not about us. It is about Him--and that's a good thing! You see, if it was about you then what happens when you blow it? What happens when you don't live up to your God-given potential? What happens when your faith falters? God's ability to be your good shepherd is all about His nature and character, not yours. Do you really want the power and comfort of this psalm? Then don't focus on what you get; rather, focus on who God is and what He can and is doing in your life for His name's sake.

_________________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 7--Results Not Just Rituals

On the surface it seemed like a legitimate question. A delegation of Jews went to the prophet Zechariah and the priests to ask if they needed to continue fasting in the fifth month like they did during their captivity years. Now that they were back in their homeland and nearing completion of the temple, was this necessary? God had a word for them in Zechariah 7, but it wasn't a direct answer to their question. Instead, God questioned their motives for doing the fasts in the first place. "When you fasted and mourned...did you really fast for Me--for Me?" (v5). God then shifted the focus away from the few days a year that they fasted to how they lived the other days of the year (vv6-10). God has never--and will never--be impressed by rituals alone. It has and always will be the motivation behind the rituals and how those rituals change one's life that concerns Him. The problem in this chapter wasn't the ritual of fasting, it was the people doing it. We go through the rituals today of praying, attending church, tithing, and even fasting. Those are good things to do but in God's eyes they are meaningless unless the motivation behind them is proper and the outcome of them is a godly life. Okay, you go to church on Sunday but how do you live the other six days? What difference does Sunday make in the rest of your week? When was the last time you took something specific from Sunday and incorporated it into your Monday? Are you going through the motions of a ritual or are you allowing the ritual to change you for the better?

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ezra 7-- How to Become an Overnight Sensation

I have a consultant friend who likes to say it takes 10-15 years to become an "overnight sensation." Whether it is business, ministry, music, art, etc. there is almost always a substantial amount of time that goes into becoming something that the public notices. Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: The Story of Success actually documents that it takes the right opportunity plus 10,000 hours of "practice" to become a true success or true expert. He shows this with The Beatles, Bill Gates and others. We also see this in Ezra 7 as we are introduced to a Jewish priest and scribe by the name of Ezra. Ezra bursts onto the global scene as he leads another wave of Jewish exiles back to Israel and then goes on to institute spiritual reforms. He is seen as a strong leader with close ties to the king of Persia. Look deeper at this "overnight sensation" and you might be surprised by what you see. In verse 6 he is called a "skilled scribe in the Law of Moses." In the same verse we are told that the king gave Ezra "all his request."  The king acknowledged Ezra's "God-given wisdom" (v25) and authorized him to appoint magistrates and judges among the people. Finally, verse 28 says that Ezra gathered the leading men of Israel to go with him. When you put all of this together you see a man who had earned the respect and admiration of leaders over time. He became an expert in God's law through discipline, consistency, and effort. He sought God's wisdom and used that in his every day interactions. Most of all,  "Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel," (v10). Ezra prepared himself to fulfill God's mission for his life. That preparation paid off in a big way! This begs two questions for us to ponder today. First, are we committed to fulfilling God's mission for our life? Second, what are we doing to prepare ourselves to be successful in that mission? If we want to be a "success" in our walk with the Lord, we must be focused and put in a substantial amount of time and effort for that to happen. Remember, overnight sensations rarely happen overnight.

_____________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 6-- How to Get God to "Show Up"

I've had the wonderful privilege of taking people on numerous missions trips around the world. It is always exciting to watch what God does in people's lives as a result of their stepping out of their comfort zone and into the Great Commission. I especially love watching the "first timers." Inevitably they come back with similar stories--"I didn't think God could really use me, but I went and saw God do amazing things." Before they could see the work of God they had to first respond to the word of God. When they stepped out in obedience to God's word, then they saw God's might. The Jews who returned from exile to Israel experienced this process first hand in Ezra 6. After their work to rebuild the temple had been stopped by their opponents and the construction site laid dormant for years, they listened to God's word. They started working again as they sought official permission from the Persian King Darius. Not only did Darius allow them to continue, but he offered to pay the costs from his treasury (v8). He went even beyond that and said that if anyone tried to change his decree allowing the rebuilding, "Let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it, and let his house be made a refuse heap," (v11). Wow! No one wanted to block the reconstruction efforts after that! God showed up in a powerful way, moving the hearts of the powerful and empowering the hearts of His people. The Jews finished the temple, dedicated it, and re-instituted the sacrificial system (vv19-22). They heard God's word. They stepped out of their comfort zone, overcame opposition, and acted on God's word. Then they saw God "show up" and provide everything they needed. The problem with many of us, however, is that we want God to show His might first before we respond to His word. It doesn't work that way! Respond to His word, then you will see His work.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 1--Who are You Listening To?

Have you ever sat down at a long, crowded dinner table where everyone was talking to each other? It is a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many different conversations taking place it is hard to know where to focus and pay attention. In life, there is a lot of noise around us vying for our attention. There are hundreds of cable TV channels and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter--not to mention the explosion of blogs--where everyone has something to say to you. To whom will you listen? In Psalm 1, the Psalmist eloquently reminds us that for us to be truly blessed and prosperous in life, we need to listen to and spend our time with the right kind of people (v1). We also need to filter out all that noise with the truth of God's word (v2). Who are you listening to today? Who or what do you allow to speak into your life? Is it the ungodly who are "like the chaff which the wind drives away" (v4)? Or are you surrounding yourself with godly counsel and encouragement? I have never forgotten what I heard a camp speaker say when I was a teenager: "You will be as godly as your friends; you will be as righteous as those you hang around." Those are good words to remember and live by.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 38--Train Wrecks

It is unavoidable. You are checking out at the grocery store and the headlines of one of those tabloid magazines catches your attention. You know that 90% of the time it is something bazaar and far from the truth, but every so often they get it right. Some "expert" was asked once why so many people buy these magazines. "Everyone wants to see the train wreck," he replied, "and these magazines are full of train wrecks." Yes, when celebrities have a train wreck the world knows about it, but there are also the quiet train wrecks that are happening in lives all around us. What seemed like the perfect trip comes to a screeching halt and next thing you know it your life "train" is off the tracks. Usually this happens because we make poor choices. You see God has a way that He wants things done, and it is for a reason. We save ourselves and those around us much heartache when we just do what God says. In Genesis 38 we see that Judah's sons (Jacob's grandsons) were wicked and the Lord killed them. We see Judah failing to keep his promise to give his youngest son in marriage to the wife of his deceased eldest son. We see Judah going to what he thought was a harlot, only to discover it was this daughter-in-law who had disguised herself to get Judah. We see a train wreck. How much agony, grief and pain could we save ourselves if we just made godly decisions? How much better off would we be if we just did what God told us to do? In the nearly three decades that I have been preaching the gospel, I have seen a lot of train wrecks. The sad thing is that most of them could have been avoided. Don't let your life be next! Make good choices.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 30-- True Business Success

The audience listened intently as the chairman of a billion dollar business told the audience about his personal struggles and emptiness as he was building his great enterprise. Success at work did not translate to success at home, nor did it leave him with a sense of true fulfillment. Externally it looked like he had it all, but that was just a facade. "My life was spiraling out of control and I did not like the person I was becoming," he said. That all changed, however, when he discovered salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. His company's mission statement now reads, in part, "To glorify God as we supply our customers world-wide..." This man discovered that when God is first in his life everything else falls into place. In Genesis 30 it is evident that God's hand was on Jacob's business affairs. Jacob worked smart (vv37-43) finding innovative ways to prosper his livestock business. You can look at this story as two sides of the same coin. On one side was the desire to honor God and the acknowledgment of Him in all that Jacob did (v30). On the other side was a solid, smart work ethic. That is a great combination. God's doesn't put His hand of blessing on laziness or poor decision making, nor is it on those who are self-sufficient or self-focused. There was balance. Evangelist Billy Graham, when training workers for his great evangelistic crusades, would say that they needed to pray like everything depended upon God but they needed to work like everything depended upon them. Jacob was experiencing true success--not just material success but the success of a life lived for God. Now that didn't mean that everything went smoothly for Jacob. There was a lot of drama at home with his wives Leah and Rachel (sisters) vying for his attention and having children (vv1-24). (By the way--the Bible never condones polygamy, it just reports what happened as this was an acceptable custom at the time. Actually, in every instance of polygamy in the Bible, we see heart-ache, grief, and trouble). In the midst of everything, Jacob did his best to stay balanced. That is a good lesson for all of us!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 14-- Decisive Action Needed

It was called the "Miracle on the Hudson" when US Airways flight 1549 heading from New York to Charlotte made an emergency landing on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. Hailed as a hero, Pilot Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger took decisive action and saved the 155 passengers and crew, and countless more lives, by keeping the plane from crashing into the densely populated city. His quick-thinking and clear-headed action averted a catastrophe. This reminds me of someone in Scripture known for his decisiveness, and that was Abraham. The more you read of Abraham's life, the more you realize that he was a man of action. When God said go, he went. When something was wrong, he took action to fix it. When he saw what he felt was right, he did it. In Genesis 14 the area where Abraham's nephew, Lot, resided was attacked by invading armies. Lot and all of his possessions were taken captive. When word reached Abraham about Lot, Abraham immediately moved to do something about it. He put together his own mini-army and successfully attacked Lot's captors. Afterward, Abraham meets someone called Melchizedek who is identified as "the priest of God Most High." While scholars differ on exactly who this was (some say it was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) it was clear how Abraham responded to him--he gave Melchizedek a tithe of all he had. Again, Abraham took action even though it cost him greatly (this was long before the tithe was given as a command through Moses). When God says "go," do you? When the Holy Spirit prods you to do something, do you take action? There are some things that are so clear we don't need to pray about doing them--we just need to take action and do it. How many opportunities do we miss because we fail to act? How much do we short-change ourselves because of our indecision? Let's learn to listen closely to God and then be quick to respond to what He says.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

 

Genesis 11-- Are You Building a Babel?

It was an extraordinary scene. One of the most powerful persons in the United States standing before the Pope. It was February, 2009 and the The U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is second in line to the president, had a brief audience with the Pope. Arguably the most politically powerful person in America next to the president, the Speaker is Roman Catholic. In Catholic theology, the Pope speaks for God. What would the Pope say to the Speaker? How would she respond to what he would say? Well, he told her in the clearest terms possible that it was the duty of government officials to protect life from conception till natural death. This was contrary to her policies. I think about that scene when I think of Genesis 11, which is a chapter of transitions. We see the transition from people being of one language and living in one place to being scattered across the earth with multiple languages (vv1-9). We see the narrative of the book transition to focus one one family, Abraham and his descendants (10-32). What is particularly notable in this chapter is the story of the building of the tower of babel. This was man's attempt to "make a name for himself." God said to fill the earth. Man, instead, rebelled and decided stay together. Not only that but they created a place to demonstrate their power and ability in direct defiance to God. Things haven't changed any since then. People today are still rebelling against God, doing things in direct defiance of Him as they try to make a name for themselves. They refuse to be told what to do and will stop at nothing to maintain power and control over themselves. We see this played out especially among those who promote abortion. Every act of abortion is a reenactment of the tower of Babel. It is a person telling God they know what is best for their lives and that they will do whatever they want regardless of what God says. But it isn't just with abortion--it is any time we knowingly and willfully defy what we know to be the clear commands of Almighty God. So, we all need to ask ourselves today, "Are we building Towers of Babel in our lives?" Are we constructing something in our lives that stands in defiance to God? What if it wasn't the Pope but Christ we were standing in front of today? Would there be a Babel in our lives that He would tell us to stop building?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 7-- The Forgotten Chapter

Our family enjoys traveling. We have been blessed to have seen some beautiful places on  this earth. It is always interesting to see how "man" tries to explain away the beauty. Whether it is an incredible canyon or rugged, majestic mountains, the "reason" for these usually is said to have been natural occurrences over millions of years. Yet these and other things, such as fossils, really can't be explained as happening over millions of years. They can only be explained by a sudden and catastrophic event. What is missing from these attempts to explain our earth is one chapter from the Bible--Genesis 7. This "forgotten" chapter (or maybe a better phrase is "ignored chapter") records the story of Noah and the great flood. This global, sudden and catastrophic event permanently altered the landscape of the world as "the fountains of the great deep were broken up" (v11) and "the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered" (v19). The real issue is do we want to take God at His word or not. As long as we choose to ignore God, then we will continue our lame attempts to explain away anything that reminds us of God. God said to Noah "Come into the ark" (v1). God had provided a vehicle for deliverance but it was up to Noah to take God at His word and utilize it. The same is true today. God the Father, through the Son Jesus Christ, has provided a means for deliverance from our personal sin and the sin of this world. Will we take God at His word and utilize His provision? Or will we ignore it and allow it to become just another forgotten chapter?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 3-- The Downward Spiral

Have you ever seen those giant cylinders in shopping malls that are placed there by charities to raise money? You know--the ones where you drop a quarter on the edge and watch it spin around and around, gaining speed with every revolution, until the coin eventually disappears through a small hole. Sometimes we find our lives in a downward spiral, moving farther and farther away from God until the vibrant relationship that we once had is now hard to distinguish. We start out slow but rapidly digress. This was the scene in Genesis 3 as Adam and Eve ushered sin into the world. Notice how this downward spiral played out. First, they questioned God (vv1-4). Did God really say that? Did He really mean that we were not supposed to do this? Second, they sinned. It was desirable so they did it (v6). Third, they influenced others (v6). Eve did it and she influenced Adam to follow. Next, they hid (v8). They didn't want God to know what they did. They were ashamed and guilt-ridden so they tried to cover it up. Finally, they blamed (vv12-13). Rather than facing the truth of what they had done, they played the "she did it, he did it, God did it" blame game. Adam was so bold as to say to God "It was the woman whom You gave me--it was her fault." After all, he reasoned, if God hadn't given him Eve he wouldn't be in the situation. Do you see how quickly Adam and Even got caught in this downward spiral? Now notice how God tries to bring them "back to the surface." First, He questioned Adam and Even (v9), not because He didn't know the answer but because He wanted them to have a chance to come clean on their own. Second, God judged them (vv14-19). While this may be seen as negative, judgment actually is a very positive thing because it gets our attention and encourages us to do what is right. Finally, God made a provision for Adam and Eve. He clothed Adam and Eve, symbolic of how He clothes us today in the righteousness of His Son (v31). The way to avoid all of this is to not drop the coin in the first place! Don't question, reason away, ignore, or try to change God's commands. If we will simply accept what God says as being best for our lives and follow it, then we will never have to worry about getting caught up in a downward spiral.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 10-- The Midnight Ride and Revival

In The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell shows how little things, done in the right way, can make a big difference. One example he uses is Paul Revere's midnight ride which was effective in rallying fighters against the British in colonial America. The reason this event was so successful and people actually responded to Revere, rather than dismissing him as a crazed lunatic, had to do with a couple of key factors: who and when. Paul Revere was the right person to make that ride because he had a good reputation and was known in those parts. In other words, when Paul spoke people listened. The second factor was that the ride took place at midnight--which would have really gotten people's attention and heightened their sense of urgency. When we look at the history of great revivals we see these two factors playing an important role. In Nehemiah 10, we see the climax of a great revival that was started in chapter 9 when the Jewish people were exposed to God's word (the when). Nehemiah, as the political leader, accompanied by religious leaders and other well respected people (the who) made a solemn covenant to God. Then "everyone who had knowledge and understanding joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into...an oath...to do all the commandments of the Lord" (v29). That covenant involved no intermarrying with pagans, keeping God's commands about the Sabbath and sacrifices, tithing, and caring for God's house. The people demonstrated true repentance--they changed their sinful ways both in what they did (sins of commission) and what they didn't do but should have done (sins of omission). You may not consider yourself to be a Nehemiah or a Paul Revere when it comes to leadership, but you do have those around you whom you influence. If revival grips your life then that could be the spark that leads to revival in others. You could be the who that God uses to initiate a great awakening in your family, work, church and even your community.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 9-- Time to Get Serious

The terrorists attacks on the Word Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001 was a defining, history-altering moment for the U.S. as a nation, and certainly for the hundreds of families who lost loved ones in the incident. I remember the incredible seriousness that spread across the country. The guys that did comedy sketches on the local news radio were silent. The Jay Leno and David Letterman shows went dark. Nobody could laugh. This was a time of national mourning where seriousness replaced joking. There are times when not only as a nation but also as individuals were are called to seriousness. We are called to face the reality of an unpleasant situation. This was the case for the Jewish people in Nehemiah 9 after they had heard, many for the first time, God's Word. It was a sobering time as they faced the reality of their situation and how sin had brought them to that place. "We are in distress," (v37) the cried. They used this serious, sacred assembly of the people to deal with sin--both theirs and their ancestors. First, they acknowledged God's righteousness (v8) and His goodness (vv5-15). Next, they acknowledged their sin and rebellion against that righteousness (vv16-18). Then they recognized God's incredible mercies (vv19-32) and His justice in punishing them (vv33-37). Finally, they decide to do something about their sin and change their ways--which is the topic of the next chapter. Today, maybe it is time for you to get serious for a little while. Maybe it is time for you to pause and take a long, hard look at your life and the affect sin has had on it. Maybe today is the day for you to do what Israel did and repent.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 8-- Don't Take It for Granted

It is easy to take something for granted when you see it all the time, isn't it?

Think about those things that you pass each day to work. You've seen them so many times that you don't give them a second thought. Unfortunately, some of us are like that when it comes to the Bible. We have not just one Bible but multiple Bibles. We may have access to Christian TV or radio where the Bible is read and taught.

We are so accustomed to having the Bible around us that we may forget its importance. I've been in places, however, where there were no Bibles, where I have given someone their very first Bible. It is an entire different reaction in these settings.

Those who have not had God's Word cherish it and desire to read and understand it, while many of us who have multiple copies of God's Word sitting around our houses never open one. In Nehemiah 8 we see the Jewish people, those who had returned to Israel following years of captivity, gathered to hear God's Word. Common people did not have access to God's Word.

Most of the people assembled that day had never heard God's Word read before. They had heard about God's Word and had teachings from it passed down over history, but they had not experienced it for themselves.

Three simple things happened in this chapter, but they had a profound impact.

First the people heard the Word. "Then he [Ezra] read from it...from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand" (v3).

Next, they understood the Word. There were "preachers" scattered amongst the assembly who explained to the people what was read. We are reminded that there is a need still today for people to explain God's Word to those who do not know it (see Romans 10:14-15).

Third, they allowed God's Word to truly impact their lives as they started obeying it (vv9-18).

Let me encourage you to do two things today. First, make a commitment to spend some time in God's Word each day. Second, each time you open God's Word, ask God to make that reading like the first time you ever touched a Bible.

Look for something new--something you have never seen before. Keep God's Word fresh in your life--and do what it tells you to do!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Acts 4-- Can't Shut Up

I chuckled as I read the T-shirt a young child was wearing. "Help! I've started talking and I can't shut up!" We probably have all experienced those times, either with our own children or with others, when they start talking about something and won't stop. Whatever is on their brain at the time comes out their mouths...and keeps on coming! In Acts 4 we see a grown-up version of this. But instead of talking nonstop about something of little importance, we find the Apostles boldly talking about Christ. "We can't stop speaking of the things that we have seen and heard," said Peter and John (v20).  In the face of persecution for sharing their faith, Peter and John refused to be silent.  They couldn't be silent.  They had experienced so much with Christ, and His resurrection had radically changed their lives that they could not help but tell others.  God was alive and real and working in their lives.  They naturally had to talk about what was so important to them.  When was the last time we experienced God's working in such a way that we couldn't help but talk about Him?  Shouldn't every day be like that?  Shouldn't who we are as believers just naturally come out in our daily conversations? Maybe we need to pray the prayer of the early church, "Lord...grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word" (v29).

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 14-- Driving in a Fog

Have you ever driven in a real thick fog? No fun is it? It is stressful because you have to pay such close attention to what is right in front of you. It is especially difficult if you are on the freeway. You focus intently on the tail lights of the car in front of you, trying to stay close enough to see them yet far enough back that you can stop if that car suddenly hits its brakes. In a fog, you lose sight of the big picture. It doesn't matter how beautiful the scenery around you might be, you can't see it. Some people approach church, Christian service, and spiritual gifts like they are in a fog. They lose sight of the big picture and focus only on certain gifts or abilities. 1 Corinthians 14 is a reminder that we need to stay out of a spiritual fog and keep things in perspective. The most important thing that we can do is proclaim God's word (vv1,3,5,31,39) but we must do it in an orderly way (vv33,40). Our focus should not be on the minutia of particular gifts but rather on people hearing from God and growing in Him.  Keep that purpose in view and you will keep yourself out of a paralyzing spiritual fog.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 11-- Navigating Different Cultures

It is always interesting going to a country I have never visited before. Every country has its own culture, traditions, and way of doing things. This is also true in the churches. In Nigeria, for example, women typically wear brightly colored dresses and large hats or full head coverings to church (also brightly colored). They expect women, all women, to do this. In Romania, the dress typically is very simple and only married women cover the heads. The style of worship also varies greatly from culture to culture. One culture may emphasize quiet meditation and prayerfulness in their services, while another may have dancing to loud drums.  Even here in the United States we have very different cultural styles when it comes to how we do church. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul reminds us that regardless of our traditions and cultural preferences, we need to be other-focused (vv1-16). There are, however, some areas that are not open to traditional interpretation. One of those is the church's presentation of the Lord's Supper (vv17-34). While there certainly is freedom to when it is conducted and the exact manner it is done, God makes it clear that everyone should approach this ordinance with the utmost sincerity. This remembrance of Christ should be sacred. So, in areas where God is silent or gives us freedom, let's celebrate cultural diversity and respect the traditions of others. But where God is clear, let us be clear and keep sacred what He considers holy.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 2-- Words, Just Words

Words are powerful. Words can move people to action. Words can manipulate. Words, if used in the right way, can even cover up a person's past actions.  We see this throughout history, and we see this every presidential election cycle. One U.S. presidential candidate, when asked if he really would delivery on all the promises he had made or if he really meant everything he said, replied that "well, a lot of that was, you know, campaign rhetoric." Sometimes people will say anything if they think it will bring them the results they want. As believers, however, we should take a different approach to how we use our words. In 1 Corinthians 2, the Apostle Paul said that "my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (v4). Words are important and it is important as believers that we use them properly. Do we desire to persuade others to accept the truth of Christ? Absolutely. But will we try to accomplish that with mere rhetoric or will we rely on God's power? Will we exclaim man's wisdom and logic or will we proclaim God's (v13)? As we seek wisdom for our own lives, will we seek the wisdom of man and be persuaded by pleasant sounding words? Or will we take on the "mind of Christ" and appropriately judge all things (v15)? Words are more than just words. They impact and influence lives. Use them wisely, and listen to them with wisdom.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Revelation 13-- Deception

Going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, we see how Satan specializes in deception. Perpetrating lies in order to advance his destructive agenda is foundational to his strategy. It is no surprise then when we come to Revelation 13 and see this deception on a global scale. In addition to Satan, two other characters are introduced to the world. One is a political leader who garners a global following (vv1-3). Often referred to as the Anti-Christ, this person is assisted by another character who is a false prophet. This individual will cause the world to worship the Anti-Christ. He will "perform great signs...and he deceives those who dwell on the earth" (vv13-14). Both of these characters will do the seemingly miraculous in order to gain a massive following. While one day these two, assisted by the Devil, will take a global stage to deceive "every tribe, tongue and nation," we must be on our guard today against deception. Satan is now and always has been in the deception business. Yes, as the world as we know it today nears its end, Satan's deception will be magnified. But never forget that this deception is at work around us right now. The only sure-fire way to keep from getting deceived is to know and operate in the truth. Jesus said "I am...the truth." We don't have to become experts in all the various deceptions of Satan. We just need to become experts in the truth, which is found in Christ and His word. As we daily spend time in God's word, ask God to firmly plant truth in our lives, and rely on His power, we will not get pulled into the deception of Satan.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 John-- The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

You've seen the TV shows where the bad guy is on trial and the prosecution is confident they will get a conviction. Then, the star witness for the state takes the stand and changes his story. Somehow, some way, the defendant got to him and caused him to lie. Now the jury is left confused and leaning towards an acquittal unless the prosecutor can come up with either new evidence or a better witness. Truth may be elusive in those TV dramas, and it certainly is elusive when it comes to real life. We live in a post-modern age where "truth" is relevant to the person considering it. This thinking, which is prevalent in our society, says that something can be true to me but not true to you. This, however, is a complete rejection of God and His word. And it is a trap that believers can fall into if we are not careful. 2 John emphasizes the importance of truth. Truth is something that can "abide in us and will be with us forever" (v2). But it is something in which we must choose to walk (v6). Truth is also something that we must guard, as there are many people who reject the truth and who would seek to turn our hearts away from it (vv10-11). Ultimately, we must remember the words of Christ when He said "I am the way, the truth and the life." Do you want to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Then embrace Christ, His love, and His message. Don't let anything turn your heart or your mind away from Him.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 John 2-- Gold Medal Living

It must be an incredible feeling to be an Olympic athlete and find yourself standing on the gold medal platform as the ultimate athletic recognition is placed around your neck. The years of hard work, the sacrifices, the endurance have all paid off as you bask in international glory. But before you know it, that moment is gone. Sure, you still have the gold medal, but before long life quickly returns to something much less dramatic and exciting. But what if you could have gold medal living everyday? What if each day was a special victory that you could celebrate? Well, you can have that kind of accomplishment--maybe not in the athletic arena but certainly in life. 1 John 2 gives us seven insights into making gold medal living a reality. First, know and follow God's ways (vv3-6). Understanding what God expects of us, as laid out in His word, is critical. Next, watch your attitude towards others (v9). Unforgivingness and selfishness can quickly turn into bitterness and even hatred of others. Third, know your spiritual growth level (vv12-14). There are certain things that we must grasp and model in each of these stages. Next, avoid having a love affair with the world (vv15-17). Lusting after temporal things will only distract, derail and detain us from victory. Then watch out for deceivers (vv18-23) who may look "Christian" but actually are against Christ. Sixth, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you (vv26-27). By actively listening to Him, we will know right from wrong. Finally, abide in Christ (vv28-29). Maintain your love relationship with Him by talking to Him through prayer, listening to Him speak to you through the Bible, and obeying what He shows you. You may never stand on top of the gold medal podium at the Olympics, but you can have a gold medal life each and every day.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 John 1-- I'm So Excited

Have you ever had such great news that you could hardly wait to tell someone? You were bubbling over with so much excitement that you wanted to shout it out to the whole world! Well, I think that is how the Apostle John must have felt as he wrote John 1.  You can just feel the excitement as John launches into his epistle. He had found something so exciting, so amazing that he could hardly wait to share it with others. What is it that he found? The Word of life--the ability to have joy-filled fellowship with God. John wrote from personal experience having walked with Christ and went on to experience a continuously intimate fellowship with God. You and I, said John, can have that same kind of joy-filled life. What does it take? First, we have to have received eternal life by committing our lives to Christ (vv1-4). Then, we must "walk in the light" (v7). We must walk in God's holiness, His righteousness. When we walk in sin we lose our fellowship or closeness to God (but not our relationship--we are still His child) vv5-7. To stay in the light, we must be quick to confess sin and seek God's forgiveness as soon as we become aware of it (v9). The issue is not being sinless, because that is impossible for everyone but God (v10). Rather, the issue is being aware of sin and quickly turning from it. This will ensure that we are walking in the light. When we do that, we not only enjoy an intimate relationship with God, but with other believers as well (v7). Walking in a dynamic and close relationship with the creator of the universe--now that is something to get excited about!

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

John 17-- Jesus Prays for YOU!

I don't know of any better, more peaceful feeling than hearing someone earnestly pray for me. When someone intercedes on our behalf to the Father, we experience a calmness and an assurance that are unique to believers. But did you know that Jesus Himself prayed for you? If you have trusted Him as Savior, He had you in mind when He prayed in John 17 (v20). Here's what He prayed for when He prayed for you:

• that you will be eternally kept through Jesus Himself (vv9-11)
• that you may be one with other believers (v11)
• that you will experience the fullness of His joy (v13)
• that you would be protected from the evil one as you serve Him in this world (v15)
• that you would be set apart by the truth that is God's word (vv17-19)
• that you would be one with Christ (vv21)
• that the world would see God's glory through you (vv22-23)
• that you would one day be with Him in heaven and see all of His glory (v24)
• that God's love would fill your life (v26)

Wow! Jesus prayed for you--and what a prayer it was! Pause right now and thank Him for His prayer for you. Thank Him for the assurance of eternal life that only He can give (vv3,10,12). Thank Him for His incredible love for you. Thank Him for revealing truth to you. Now that He has prayed for you, ask Him to empower you that you may bring glory to Him every day of your life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Timothy 4-- What will be on Your Tombstone?

While no one really wants to contemplate death, it is interesting to walk through cemeteries and read the grave markers. This is especially true of real old cemeteries. In just a few words engraved in stone, you get a sense of the person's entire life. What will be engraved on your tombstone? If the Apostle Paul had a grave marker, it could read something like "He fought the good fight. He finished his race. He kept the faith." All words that Paul used of himself in 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Could those words be said of you? Did you fight the good fight by not giving up in the midst of adversity (vv5,8)? Did you finish the entire race that God sat out for you by avoiding falling in love with this world (vv9-10)? Have you kept the faith by enduring sound doctrine (v3), having an answer for those outside the faith (v2), and listening only to the truth (v4)? Fought, finished, kept--may these words be true of all of us.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.