In this series I want to examine one of the most “negative” passages of scripture in the Bible. God gives us ten commands that all begin with thou shalt not.” Hey, what’s up with this? Is God trying to spoil all our fun? Let’s see if God has a “positive” purpose in mind.
How to Set Your Priorities (Exodus 20:1-3)
What is a god? Basically, anything that gets top priority in my life. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that, “…no man can serve two masters….” The implication is obvious. We ARE going to serve somebody! The key to freedom is to choose the one who has our best interest at heart.
How to Know the REAL God (Exodus 20:4-6)
We all have THINGS that are important to us. If we’re not careful, they can easily become idols in our lives. These verses are really all about worshipping THINGS. It’s interesting, that while Moses was on the top of the mount receiving this commandment, the children of Israel were at the foot of the mount worshipping a golden calf. Before we get all bent out of shape over THEIR obvious idolatry, are there some THINGS that we are prone to worship?
How To Take God Seriously
To the children of Israel, a name was more than just something to call you. It represents your character and value. The name of God was so holy that the priests devised a Hebrew variation that lacked consonants and was, therefore, unpronounceable (YHWH). To “…take God’s name in vain…” means to misuse it. This message examines six ways to misuse God’s name.”
Battling Burnout
Do you ever use weekends to catch up on unfinished work? Do you ever feel as tired on Monday morning as you do on Friday afternoon? Has anyone ever accused you of being a “workaholic?” When you relax, do you feel just a little bit guilty because you should be DOING something? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then I have some good news for you! This commandment is the cure for that burnout-producing attitude!
How to Make Peace With Your Parents
The Ten Commandments are all about relationships. The first four deal with my relationship with God. The last six deal with my relationship with people. It’s no accident that the first commandment of this second section deals with the most basic relationship of life.
How to Tame Your Temper
The 6th commandment is the shortest of all and simply states, “Thou shalt not kill.” The Hebrew word that is translated, “kill”, is “ratsach”. This is a very specific Hebrew word that deals only with murder (sorry vegetarians). Jesus gives us tremendous insights into the REAL problem that often leads to the breaking of this commandment — ANGER!
How To Affair-proof Your Marriage
After fifty years of ministry, I have come to two completely obvious conclusions concerning marriage. #1 ― It is much easier to GET married than it is to STAY married. #2 ― Most couples spend far more time and energy getting ready for THE WEDDING than they do THE MARRIAGE. God wants your marriage to be both satisfying and successful. How do you maintain interest through the years and not grow bored with the relationship?
How to Prosper With a Clear Conscience
Prosperity is a Biblical principle that is vital for our growth and fulfillment in life, but there are many instructions that govern our efforts to do so. ‘Ill-gotten gain brings no lasting happiness; right living does!’ – Proverbs 10:2, The Living Bible
How To Be Respected By Others
Dr. Leonard Keiler, inventor of the lie detector, surveyed 25,000 people while trying to develop his invention. He concluded that people are basically dishonest. That’s why God gave us the 9th Commandment! By showing respect TO others (not lying about them, ruining their reputation, and misrepresenting them), I can gain respect FROM others.
Finding Lasting Contentment
The 10th and final commandment deals with the principle of contentment. To ‘covet’ involves two basic attitudes: 1. An excessive desire for what I don’t have 2. An envious desire for what others have. We label these attitudes today as MATERIALISM. How do you find lasting contentment in a world that is always pushing for more?