Have You Made A Deal With God?

David Sproule

You’ve heard of people trying to “make a deal” with God, haven’t you?  Maybe you have been one of those people.  “Lord, if you will ______, then I will _____.”  Those “deals” are usually designed for the good of the recipient, aren’t they?

Would you ever try to “make a deal” with God for the good of someone else?  In Psalm 71, the psalmist does exactly that.  We will look specifically at verse 18, but get the feel for the entire psalm first.  “In you, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.  Deliver me…cause me to escape…incline Your ear to me…save me…Be my strong refuge…save me…Deliver me…Do not cast me off…Do not forsake me…do not be far from me…make haste to help me…do not forsake me…revive me again…bring me up again…increase my greatness…comfort me on every side.”

If you only read those expressions in the psalm, you could easily walk away thinking the psalmist was being very demanding, rather selfish and not very God-centered.  But such a conclusion would miss the mark.  The question to consider is, “Why?  Why was the psalmist making these pleas to his God”?  Let’s consider the focus in verse 18, and then expand that to the rest of the psalm.

“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (71:18).  The psalmist had a goal.  He had a purpose.  He had a strong desire to “declare” the strength and power of God to his present generation and to successive generations.  He was striving to make a deal with God to “deliver” him, “save him” and “not forsake” him, so that he could fulfill his goal of telling others of God!

Look at the rest of the psalm in that light.  “My praise shall be continually on You…Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day…I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more…My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits…I will make mention of Your righteousness, and of Yours only…I declare Your wondrous works…I will praise You and Your faithfulness…My lips shall greatly rejoice…and my soul which You have redeemed…My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long.”

Have you tried to “make a deal” with God lately?  So often those deals are focused on the good of the recipient, but the “deal” that the psalmist was seeking to strike with God was not for his own good but the good of others and of the glory of God.

Could you say (or Would you say) to God, “Spare my life until I declare Your greatness to this generation and to the generation to come”?  That…and that alone…is our purpose!

The Mission Field Just Outside Your Front Door

Wade Webster

In the last installment of this study, we noticed the mission field that is just inside our front door. In this installment, just outside our front door. Likely, this mission field is more familiar to us. However, we may still miss some great evangelistic opportunities if we are not careful.

Neighbors

Obviously, the Parable of the Good Samaritan expands our thinking when it comes to our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37). Everyone we are going to discuss in this article is our neighbor. Of course, the same would ultimately be true of those who live in the most distant and the remote places on earth. Every man is our neighbor, and we are to strive to love him as we love ourselves (Mat. 22:39). Having said that, I want to narrow our focus for the sake of this study. For the sake of this study, we are going to focus on those in our neighborhood or on our street. These are likely individuals we see from time to time as we mow our yards, take walks, check our mail, etc. We wave when we see each other. We know their names and they know ours. Surely, we can and should invite them to services or try to get a Bible study with them (Isa. 2:3).

The Mailman and Deliverymen

A mailman stops at our house almost every day. It is very easy to build a relationship with him. He comes at virtually the same time every day, so it is not very difficult to catch him and to have a brief conversation with him. Deliverymen also come to our houses on a regular basis. Although we may have a wider array of deliverymen than postmen, we likely have the same deliverymen from time to time. Times of delivery vary a little more with other companies than with the post office. Still, there are opportunities to build relationships and to evangelize. These know our name from the package they are delivering and it is pretty easy for us to learn theirs.

Coworkers

Many members work jobs where they spend long hours each week with the same people. In fact, they may spend years working side by side. Although the workplace may be a tricky place for evangelism, it does afford us opportunities to build close relationships that are the best soil for evangelism anyway. Opportunities away from work will likely appear from time to time and give us opportunities away from work for evangelism. We can visit them or fix a meal for them during times of sickness and loss. You remember that Aquila, Priscilla, and Paul shared the same trade or craft (Acts 18:1-3).

Store Owners, Clerks, and Cashiers

Likely, we frequent the same stores, restaurants, and businesses on a frequent basis. As we shop and dine, we will get to know each other through these interactions and have good evangelistic opportunities. No doubt, you recall that Paul found some evangelistic opportunities in the market (Acts 17:17).

Community Ball Teams

Some adults play community sports which gives them opportunities to meet other adults who share a common interest in some of the same things. In addition to parents who play community, many children do. As parents come to watch their children play, they meet other parents who have children of similar ages and interests. This gives Christian parents excellent evangelistic opportunities (1 Pet. 3:15).

Hairdressers and Barbers

Likely, when we find someone who is good at cutting our hair, we schedule regular appointments with the. These appointments give us opportunities to build a relationship with them and to win them for Christ (Prov. 11:30).

No doubt, there are many more evangelistic opportunities just outside our front door, but these examples may help us to see opportunities that we may have overlooked. The fields are likely closer to harvest than we have ever considered.

The Mission Field Just Inside Your Front Door

Wade Webster

The We often talk about the mission field just outside our front door.  While this is certainly true, we might miss an even closer mission field - the mission field just inside our front door.  It is this mission field that I want us to consider in this article.

Our Mates

Some are married to non-Christians.  It should be your goal to win them to Christ. Peter wrote, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear” (1 Peter 3:1-2).  Husbands and wives have the opportunity and the responsibility to try to save each other.  Paul wrote, “For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” (1 Corinthians 7:16).

Our Children

Some homes have children who have reached the age of accountability but have not obeyed the gospel yet.  Parents have both an opportunity and a responsibility to talk to them about putting on Christ in baptism.  Other homes have children who are rapidly growing to the age of accountability.  It is not too early to start planting and watering these seeds.  Like Noah, we want to save our houses or families.  We read, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Nephews, Nieces, Etc.

In addition to the family members who regularly live inside the home, there are other family members who visit from time to time.  Some of these family members may not be Christians.  Their visits present excellent opportunities to win them for Christ.  For example, grandchildren can invite grandparents to come with them to worship.  It is hard for a grandparent to say no to that. Young people can be a powerful example.  Paul wrote, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (“1 Timothy 4:12).

Handymen, Appliance-repairmen, Maids, and Babysitters

From time to time, we have handymen and appliance-repairmen come into our homes. This presents us with an excellent opportunity to help them to fix what is broken in their lives.  Other homes have maids and babysitters that come in on a regular basis.  Over time, a very close relationship can be formed with these workers.  What a shame it would be for these individuals to help us with earthly concerns, and for us to help them with eternal concerns. As you know, many servants became saints in the New Testament.  In fact, Paul wrote an entire book about one of these servants.  We read, “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever” (Philemon 1:15). 

Friends

Often, friends come into our homes.  These friends are some of the closest relationships that we have on earth.  Solomon wrote, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).  No doubt, you remember that Philip found his friend after he found Jesus.  We read, “The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:43-45). Surely, like Philip, we want to introduce our friends to the greatest friend that any man can have - Jesus Christ.  Jesus declared, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:12-13). 

When you are thinking about mission fields, don’t forget the one just inside your front door.  There are likely some in this field who also need the gospel.

Do You Love Your Neighbor As Yourself?

Wade Webster

The Bible commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  It is the second greatest commandment, right after loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind.   In Matthew, we read, “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Mat. 22:35-40).  No doubt, all of us would say that we love our neighbor in this way, but do we really? Let’s take a closer look and see.

If your house was on fire and you were inside, what would you want your neighbor to do? No doubt, you would want them to do everything that they could do to get you out.  You would want them to pull you out of the fire.  Well, that’s what they need you to do.  Jude wrote, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 22-23).

If you had been bitten by a deadly snake, what would you want your neighbor to do?   No doubt, you would want them to do all that they could to help you get the anti-venom that you needed to live.  Likely, you remember when deadly snakes bit the people in Moses’ day.  God’s antidote was a brazen serpent on a pole.  To live, individuals had to look on that serpent.  Today, men have been bitten by a deadly serpent (Satan).  Poison (sin) is rapidly spreading throughout their system. They need God’s antidote.  Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:14-16).

If you were dying of hunger or thirst, what would you want your neighbor to do?  No doubt, you would want them to share bread and water with you.  Well, this is the condition that they are in, even if they don’t know it.  Physically, they may have plenty.  However, spiritually speaking, they don’t.  They need the bread of life and the living water.  Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe” (John 6:35-36).

If a thief or a murderer was breaking into your house, what would you want your neighbor to do? No doubt, you would want them to warn you.  Well, the devil is a thief and a murderer.  Jesus declared, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside” (Mat. 13:19).  Again, He said “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

If a hungry lion was loose in your neighborhood, what would you want your neighbor to do? No doubt, you would want your neighbor to give you warning.  Peter wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

If you were in darkness, and your neighbor had light, what would you want them to do?  No doubt, you would want them to share the light with you. The world lies in darkness.  We have the light.  Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

If a wonderful gift was free to all who knew about it, what would you want your neighbor to do? No doubt, you would want them to tell you about it.  Paul wrote, “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Rom. 5:15-18).

How did you do in answering the questions above?  Are you doing for your neighbor what you would want him to do for you?

Five Things That Justify & Three Observations

Wade Webster

Five things are recorded as justifying us in the Scriptures:

• Faith - “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). “
• Works - “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).
• Grace - “That having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).
• The Blood of Jesus - “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9).
• The Spirit - “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
• Christ - “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!’” (Galatians 2:17).

The Bible is clear on all five of these things.

What are some observations that can be made from these things?

First, if all of these things are involved in justification, and they clearly are, then justification is not by any one of them alone.  Yet, many in the religious world argue that justification is by faith alone.  I have even heard a few argue that justification is by grace alone through faith alone.  Try to wrap your mind around that.  If it involves both grace and faith, then it is by neither of these things alone.  Think of a simple illustration of this.  At one time Adam was alone (Gen. 2:18), but then God made Eve and brought her to him.  Now, Adam was not alone.  He had a helpmeet.  He had Eve.  To say that Adam was alone would have been to ignore the gift of God. In like manner, once grace and faith are together, faith is no longer alone.  To argue justification by faith alone is to deny the gift (grace) that God has given.

Second, if one of these things can be discarded, then all of them can be discarded. If not, why not?  Would any argue that you could discard Christ and His blood?  Would anyone argue that you could discard grace?  No, none are so bold.  Yet, many try to discard works. However, if works can be discarded, then so can faith. Faith could even be discarded on the basis that it is a work (John 6:29; 1 Thess. 1:3). 

Third, if all these things are connected to justification, then we should be able to see connections between them.  Do connections exist?  We have already seen that grace and faith are connected (Eph. 2:8). Faith and blood are also connected (Rom. 3:25):  Perhaps, the most surprising thing of all is that faith and works are connected (James 2:22). We must not put asunder what God has joined together (Mat. 19:6). 

The Bible is clear on justification.  Have you been justified by these five things?