WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STOCK MARKET?

“Nobody knows what the stock market is going to do or even what it ought to do. Hence, the most valuable asset in all business, which is knowledge, is necessarily absent.” – Edwin Lefevre.

The stock market makes little sense to the person who doesn’t spend all day trying to learn the ins and outs of the market. The stock market can be one of the most confusing places on earth and difficult to explain. So most people don’t try to fully understand it.

Is it bullish or bearish? Is the Federal Reserve on the right track or not? Hold or liquidate? What stocks to buy? What industry, etc? If we have a human financial planner managing our money, we can assume that they are experts and know what they are doing. They will buy and sell stocks in an attempt to buy when cheap and sell when the stock prices are high. But regardless of how good their track record may be, we still can take or ignore their advice if we choose.

As important as financial advice from Wall Street is, there’s a much more understandable and reliable resource on how to manage our money in 2023. That resource is the Bible. Jesus has a lot to say on the subject of money. And if you want financial advice from the best financial planner, see what the Lord had to say about money in the Bible.

But we can ignore God’s advice just as readily as we ignore a financial player’s advice. God repeatedly challenges us to trust Him with our finances, promising that when we give Him our first and best, He will bless the rest. There’s only one place in the Bible where God told His followers to test Him. In the book of Malachi 3:10, when teaching about generosity, God said, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” But it’s not just about money. When it comes to our finances, what God really wants for us is our hearts and our trust.

God has a better, wiser way to manage money. It is counterintuitive to what we believe we should be doing which is why His plan requires faith. The key to His strategy is not to make more but to give more. “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). When we give God the first part of our money, He will manage the rest. This requires faith, but He is faithful.

As we near the middle of 2023, we need to ask not only whether our investments did well, but we have we been rich toward God. Have we been generous toward those who need to see God’s love through our support and care? We want our money to reveal our love for God, His kingdom, His priorities, and His people.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can God be the financial planner in our lives?
  2. What can we do this week to be more prudent with our money?  

OUR SUPERNATURAL ENEMY

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” – John 8:44.

We have a supernatural enemy, and we will encounter him regularly. One of the devil’s greatest tricks is convincing the world that he doesn’t exist. Satan is the supreme deceiver, striving to rid our minds of his existence and to make us believe that all the Bible’s teaching about him is the stuff of myth, legend, and ancient folklore — antiquated stories that have no place in our enlightened and comfortably brave new world.

If it takes tempting you to secretly cut a few corners in your business, which you would not have done in earlier days, he’ll go there. Whatever it takes to bring you down, he will try. Because we have an enemy we cannot see does not mean he is not real.

Satan knows he won’t be able to attack us forever, so he’s making the most of the time he’s got. Revelation 12:12 says “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.” The goal is to be prepared. We must acknowledge the war is real and raging all around us, and we must be ready to fight: we are in a battle for our hearts, our churches, our children, our time, our talents, and our wallets, our joy and our hope. We cannot pretend these things are off-limits to our enemy.

We cannot coast through the Christian life. We cannot live as if we are defenseless. We cannot allow ourselves to be unaware of Satan’s schemes. We cannot allow fear and anxiety to get the best of us. Rather we must be strong and courageous, because the Lord is with us, for us, and in us. We cannot allow ourselves to be caught off our guard, or lose sight that we are facing the harsh reality of spiritual warfare.

Fortunately, God is sovereign. We know that Satan is at work, and we know that for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose, all things work together for our good.  (Romans 8:28).

Romans 8:38-39  reminds us that “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Discussion Question:

  1. What and how does the devil steal, kill, and destroy in your life?
  2. How can we accurately identify the common lies of the devil in our lives?

ANGELS AMONG US

“For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” – Psalm 91:11-12

Our culture is also fascinated with angels. Look at all the movies about angels – In the Arms of Angels, City of Angels, and Angels in the Outfield to name just a few.  And who doesn’t want a guardian angel like Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life to give us some perspective?  Back in the mid-1990s, there was a popular TV series called “Touched by an Angel.” The show’s premise followed three angels as they quietly showed up at those big, crossroads moments in people’s lives. Only, it wasn’t until the end of each episode that the angels revealed their true nature. There was just something about feeling that you weren’t alone in those dark, trying times that kept viewers glued to their TVs.

Why did God create the angels? The Bible says He created them to be His servants and carry out His will. We cannot imagine what this must involve, but every time we are introduced to them in the Bible, they are doing something God told them to do. They have a special responsibility to watch over God’s people; the Bible says that God “…will order his angels to protect you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11). The Bible is filled with over several hundred references to angels. From Genesis where angels are guarding the Garden of Eden to Revelation where angels are around the throne worshiping God.

There are thousands upon thousands of angels. “Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders”  (Revelation 5:11). Jesus refers to the vast number of angels He could have called on at his arrest. “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” (Matthew 26:53).

We are not to worship angels. John fell at the feet of an angel and was told, in Revelation 22:9: “… No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!” They do not want you to take your eyes off Jesus who is the only one worthy of your worship.

Although we don’t know everything there is to know about angels, we know they are real and that they are a part of God’s strategy to help his people through the invisible-yet-ever-present spiritual battleground of life.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the difference between the way angels are portrayed in the Bible and the way they are portrayed in art?
  2.  What would you say is the job description of angels?
  3. How can angels help us?

LIVING A SUPERNATURAL LIFE

 “A long time ago, I was in the hospital in York, Pennsylvania, when I heard that the doctor had asked Kathy Hughes to sign the donation papers for the vital organs because in their medical opinion her husband Charles Hughes was functionally dead. His father, Dr. Robert Hughes, went to the hospital chapel to pray for him, and I got on the phone to ask the entire Thomas Road and Liberty family to pray. I called for a day of prayer and fasting, and today Charles Hughes is alive and pastoring a church in Madison Heights. He has come back from the “figurative dead” to complete his seminary degree, his doctor’s degree; and today he works for us at Liberty.– Jerry Falwell. 

People are fascinated by the Bible, God, and all that pertains to Christianity for different reasons, one of which is the supernatural. We love to read about Moses crossing the Red Sea, angels, the sick being healed, and people being set free from demons. We look to God to change us in ways that we cannot, and ask Him for answers to questions we don’t understand.  Surrounded by the natural, the explainable, and the obvious, it can be difficult to take the leap of faith but to God, nothing is more natural than the supernatural.

Christianity is inherently supernatural. Remember, we believe that the Creator of the Universe took on human form by being born to a virgin girl, took all the punishment we deserve for our disobedience and sin upon himself, died and was resurrected, was carried up to heaven, and sent His Spirit to live in us. Finally, He promised to come back. The second coming is when Jesus returns to judge all mankind – the living and the dead. So, all of us will stand before the “Christ as Judge.”  A lot of the supernatural in those statements.

Most people want to leave their humdrum ordinary physical existence to something greater, something better, maybe even something extraordinary or supernatural. We were made for God. We were not just made for an ordinary existence. We intuitively seek more and only God can give it to us. Fortunately, God’s supernatural power is so great, so comprehensive, that He can do supernatural things in every aspect of your life: the way you communicate, the way you think, the way you love, the way you serve, and even how you deal with your enemies.

Jesus made a convicting statement in in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. At the end of Matthew 5, Jesus says this, “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Vs 46-48).

Think about that. Don’t just be like everyone else. Live a better life.

Discussion Questions:

  1. God recreated us to live a supernatural life: agree or disagree and why?
  2. What does living a supernatural life mean to you?

A BOTTOMLESS PIT FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS?

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” – Isaiah 55:1-2.

“Do you have anything to eat? I’m hungry.”

“But you just had lunch.”

“Mom, that was over 45 minutes ago.”

The mom throws up her hands in disbelief and puts aside the article she was reading on her iPad. She has two teenagers and food just seems to evaporate into the bottomless pit commonly known as a teenager’s stomach.  She takes a second to ponder on just what would it take to satiate her boys, but brushes that thought aside and prepares for the enviable decision of whether he wants a healthy snack or some junk food. The mom knows the answer but asks him anyways.  The answer is quick and predictable. “How about a sandwich and some chips…and some milk?” The mom opens up the refrigerator and sighs wondering how the contents have dwindled so much in just a couple of days. The mom closes the refrigerator door enough to establish a line of sight with her son.” Who ate all the cake?” “Joel and I ate that yesterday.” She sighs and walks back to her iPad.

Hunger indicates a physical need, but it must be adequately satisfied. The same is true spiritually. We can seem like we are starving spiritually as well. We’re consuming, we’re filling up, we’re taking in, but at the end of the day, we are still hungry for more. Every day we reach for the things that we believe will enrich our lives and nourish our souls. We take in what we think will ultimately fill us up. But we remain anxious, overwhelmed, and exhausted, wanting still more of what we know really nourishes, feeds, satisfies, and sustains us: God. Without even realizing or intending it, we become disconnected from the only source of satisfying our spiritual hunger and thirst.

When we are physically hungry or thirsty, we eat or drink and feel satisfied. Later, those desires return and we need to eat and drink again. Have you noticed that the more you “feed” your soul with Him, it’s the exact opposite? The more of Him you have, the more of Him you want.

Consider what the Bible says on the subject: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6 ESV). “Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” ( John 6:35). “It is written, man does not live in bread alone, but in every word that comes from the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4 (NIV). “I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?” (Psalm 42:2).

When you wake up tomorrow, you will be hungry and thirsty. While you’re choosing your breakfast, lunch, or dinner, reflect on what will satisfy your spiritual appetite as well. Let God fill you till you feel you will bust. Be a bottomless pit for spiritual things.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some common reasons why people’s hunger and thirst for God fades or diminishes over time? What can we do to ensure that doesn’t happen?
  2. How can we hunger more for spiritual things this week? 

IS GOD IN CONTROL OR ARE WE IN CONTROL?

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.” – 1 Chronicles 29:11-12.

Many people believe that they know way more than they actually do and can do more than they can actually do. Many people believe they can do it all, or at least give it a real go. They believe they can work a full-time job, pursue graduate school full-time, plus several other activities all on their own strength. Many have tried to do everything but most have failed.

As humans, our natural inclination is to try to be in control of every circumstance in our lives. When life isn’t going our way, it is so easy to get in the mindset that we can “take the wheel” from God and we will work everything out by sheer determination. Determination is an admirable quality, but the reality is that no matter what, God is always in control. We simply can’t be in control when God is in control. Trying to be in control and giving God control just doesn’t work – they can’t co-exist. We must come to realize that He is in control of every aspect of our lives. He has your best interest in mind. He wants you to live the purposeful life that He has predestined for you. He knows what we need much better than we do. He is the one taking you exactly where you are supposed to go while at the same time having us exactly where we are supposed to be.

The process of giving God control and letting things go is definitely not easy. Here are some ways that may help you relinquish control. First, talk to God:  God wants to spend time with you. Spend time talking to Him. Talk openly and freely about everything. Let Him know that you’re struggling to let go of control and invite Him to help you. Read the Bible: When you read scripture, you get to know God. It only makes sense that the more you know someone, the more you learn about their character. It’s easier to trust God and let Him take the wheel when we know Him.

Then we need to listen to Him and thank Him. The Lord speaks to us, so we need to listen to what He has to say. Even if you struggle with control, approach God with a thankful heart. It’s easier to release control when you’re thankful for what someone has done for you.

God is patiently waiting for you to let Him take the wheel. He remains faithful in spite of our unfaithfulness. All you have to do is ask for directions and let God take the wheel.

God’s plan will always be better. No matter how much you try to control your life, God’s will is what you should strive for. That means giving Him full control of our lives because He knows exactly what He is doing. Give God the keys and surrender to His will.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does God in control mean to you?
  2. What would we do differently this week if we knew God is in control?  

A MOTHER AND A HALF

Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other. All right, bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought to the king. Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!” – 1 Kings 3:23-2.

The wisest man in history ordered a baby to be cut in half.

This story is one of the best-known in the whole Bible. Having been promised wisdom, Solomon now had the opportunity to use that wisdom. The situation was that two prostitute mothers came to Solomon to settle a very serious dispute. Something very bad had happened and these mothers came to the highest court in the land. They stood before the king as the only ones who knew what really happened. They had been alone and no one else was able to confirm the testimony of either mother, as the normal legal process required: “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 19:15). Israel’s kings had to sometimes settle particularly hard cases, and this was one. This was no ordinary situation.

One of the mothers carelessly or tragically smothered her child in the middle of the night and both mothers claimed the living child as their own. Without other witnesses or evidence, Solomon had to rely on his discernment. King Solomon knew he needed to carefully assess the situation and examine the evidence carefully if he was to find the true mother. He knew the only way to do so was to utilize one of the most powerful forces on earth. A mother’s maternal instinct.

Calling for a sword, he ordered the child cut into two, with each woman getting an equal share. Is King Solomon really wanting to cut the child in half? Of course not, he is looking for a response and the response will guide him to the proof he needs to make a just judgment. Solomon knew that to a mother, nothing matters more than her child. He knew that the best way to find the child’s true mother was to see which woman would protect him at all costs.

The mother of this child loved her son enough to sacrifice not only her happiness but also her life to save her son. So she begged Solomon to give the baby to the other woman in order to spare his life. In startling contrast, the other woman was willing to have the child killed. Solomon was able to judge rightly and to give back to the true mother her child. Because of Solomon’s wisdom and the true mother’s love and sacrifice for her child, the true mother’s identity was revealed. Solomon used both his God-given power and wisdom to not only save a child’s life but ensure he was raised by a loving, caring mother – one who would not sacrifice him for anything, even her own opportunity to raise him.

Mother’s Day is a special day for us to remember and honor our mothers. We should honor our mothers not just one day a year, but every day of the year. May we celebrate our mothers today and every day as God’s gift to us.    

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your initial reaction when you heard Solomon say bring me a sword?
  2. What can we learn about mothers and wisdom from the Biblical story? 

THANKS TO ALL THE ORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARY MOTHERS

“Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” – Proverbs 31:31

Suspend disbelief for a second and imagine the following scenario: Moms across the country are sitting at the kitchen table, sipping an Iced Caramel Macchiato with Almond Milk and smiling as the sun glints all around a spotless kitchen where three kids are dutifully doing their homework while an uplifting worship song coming from the house speakers syncs perfectly with a chirping bird sitting on the window sill. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Unfortunately, that is not reality. More likely, mom is coaching a six-year-old that is having a meltdown of epic proportions or having a stand-off with an 8-year-old that has will greater than hers. Or maybe she is nursing a child that had her finger slammed in the door, fixing a clogged toilet, cleaning up the Kool-Aid dripping off the counter, or conducting an investigation into what happened to all the Oreos in the pantry.

That is probably closer to a normal day. But no matter how tired, or prone to crankiness, you feel that day, you make the rounds that night to pray over them and tuck them in. The 3-year-old that was running around the house naked with his underwear over his head says, “You’re the best mom ever.” Somehow that makes everything better.

Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children. Our relationship with “mom” is unlike any other – the unconditional love, support, and sacrifice of most mothers are unparalleled. There are many reasons why we pause to recognize and appreciate their impact on our lives on Mother’s Day. We should do it more often than once a year, however.  A mother’s passion and commitment to her family is truly inspiring. A mother’s unconditional love is the foundation of the entire family. The strength of a mother’s love can move mountains. Did you ever watch a mother care for a sick child or spouse? She does it with grace and dignity. She selflessly puts her needs aside to tend to us.

John Quincy Adams declared, “All that I am my mother made me.”  Abraham Lincoln was only nine years of age when his mother died.  Later in life, the 16th president of the United States said, “All that I am or ever hope to be I owe to my darling mother.”  D.L. Moody similarly testified, “All that I have ever accomplished in life I owe to my mother.”  That is the power of a mother’s influence.

It is important to tell our mothers we love and respect them every chance we get, not just on Mother’s Day. Let’s pay tribute to all mothers, young and old. Let’s honor them and be thankful for how much the world has been enriched through them. The Bible says, “Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters” (1Timothy 5:2)

 Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you thank your mother? 
  2. What can we do this week to show our gratitude for all our mothers do? 

DEAR MOM

“Her children stand and bless her….” – Proverbs 31:28

There was a mother in the news that went on strike.  She didn’t walk a picket line or protest outside her home, she just stopped doing the things she does as a mother daily.  For six days the mother of three did no “picking up, tidying, washing, cleaning, clearing, reminding or nagging.” The results were predictable. Absolute chaos ensued. The house was a wreck.  It became painfully obvious to the family just how much moms do on a daily basis.

Mothers play such a vital role in our society. Not only do they impact their children, but they also impact their grandchildren and maybe even their great-grandchildren. They influence the next generation by passing on their values, understanding, wisdom, and faith.

On Mother’s Day each year, we acknowledge the unique contributions that mothers make in the lives of their children. We certainly want to show our appreciation and gratitude more often than once a year, but on Mother’s Day specifically, we recognize the behind-the-scenes sacrifices and struggles every mother makes. We recognize that too often the contributions of mothers are undervalued, misunderstood, and overlooked because so much that moms do is unseen. Most people will never see you as a mom cleaning spit-up, cooking another meal, responding to another tantrum, picking up the legos before someone steps on them, listening to a teenager’s concerns, or stopping an argument amongst siblings; all while trying to find time to work on that online marketing class. Moms simply don’t get their due. You sacrifice and struggle because of love, and selfless sacrificial love is worthy of recognition.

The apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy about the impact of Timothy’s mother and grandmother on his life: “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you” (2 Timothy 1:5). This shows us the importance of a godly heritage. For Timothy, it started with his grandmother, Lois, went to his mother, Eunice, and next to Timothy. And then Timothy passed that faith on.

Scripture says of the godly woman, “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: ‘There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (Proverbs 31:28–29.

To all the mothers out there: We thank you and honor you this Mother’s Day weekend.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you appreciate most about your mom? 
  2. What can we do this week to honor and respect your mother?  

THE IMPORTANCE OF SOUND DOCTRINE

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” — 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

There is a variety of Christian experiences available to the believer today. We can pick a church that aligns with our worship viewpoint. If we like old hymns, we could go to a church that only sings hymns. If we like worship services with loud music, lights. and fog we can find a church like that. If we want a more relaxed environment that serves coffee in the lobby, we could find a place for excellent coffee. We do not even have to leave our homes to experience any one of these except we have to drink our own coffee. But regardless of what the church does or doesn’t do, the church’s foundation must be built on sound doctrine.

“Doctrine” sometimes has the reputation of being just a cold set of rules and regulations debated by scholars. Christian doctrine is the teaching found in the Bible—about who God is, who we are, why the world exists, and so on. The subject merits careful thought because it plays a vital part in every Christian’s life. Titus 2:1 says, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” 

In Acts 2:42 we read: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”Notice the word “devoted.” The doctrinal instruction by the apostles was considered a necessity, not a luxury. The King James Version says, “they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” Even after three thousand new converts were added to the church, (Acts 2:41)  the priority continued to be providing sound doctrinal instruction for the new believers.

Sound doctrine is so important to every disciple because it gives them the mind of Christ, makes them like Him, and motivates them to love Him and know Him more intimately. The closer we are to Jesus, the better we will represent Him in this lost world.  “You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Think of it this way. We love God and if you love someone, you want to know everything about them. When you fall in love, you want to know all sorts of things about him or her – which school did they go to, what their hobbies are, their plans for the future, etc.  If we love God, we’ll want to know all about Him – about His nature, His character, His purposes, His commandments to name a few. In other words, we’ll want to study doctrine.  Doctrine enables us to relate to the God who’s really there, not the God we imagine Him to be.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the word “doctrine” mean to you?
  2. Where can you improve in your knowledge of doctrine?